MONDAY, MAY 17, 2004

Burnaby – The BC Building Trades (BCYT-BCTC) urges the Provincial Government to lift the reigns on TransLink said President Gary Kroeker.

“It is clear that the RAV and North East Sector lines are both necessary and can proceed if the government would turn over their committed funds to the Board with no strings attached,” said Kroeker. “No other funding agencies have applied conditions, so lets get the politics out and get on with it!”

“Anyone with a reasonable approach to building the economy must be able to see that with 10 to 13 billion dollars of construction to be done over the next ten years, we need to get started if we are going to use our skills to our best advantage,” said Wayne Peppard, Executive Director of the BCYT-BCTC. “Training and skills development must start now and these projects will give us the opportunity to deliver qualified workers on line for the future.”

“As the debate heats up over the next forty-eight hours, it is clear that there is going to have to be an objective analysis developed when the Board meets on Wednesday,” said Peppard.

“The Provincial Government has clearly challenged the Directors with its demands. We can only hope that the Directors can see past the chest pounding and approve, on a go-forward basis, a plan that meets everyone’s needs. Left to their own, I’m sure that the TransLink Board can deliver,” added Kroeker. -30-

For further information contact: Gary Kroeker (604) 291-8831 or Wayne Peppard at (604) 291-9020 Cellular: (604) 916-0027

For further information contact 

the BCYT-BCTC office:  604-291-9020

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