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BC SkyTrains to be built in Mexico
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by Barry Artiste | April 13, 2008 at 04:15 pm
717 views | 8 Recommendations | 8 comments
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Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
Here is a few obvious problems I have with this.
- Our High Taxes pay for Translink
- Our Canadian Taxes from all Canadians paid for Bombardier's Billion Dollar Bailout, in which once "Cashed By Them", they immediately closed manufacturing plants in Canada and promptly headed to Mexico to set up Shop there, much to the outrage of Taxpayers against the Federal Liberal Government who were in Power.
- Burnaby, British Columbias' Manufacturing Facility which built these Skytrains previously, may experience entire layoffs and unemployment, in which we, "the taxpayers" will again be the losers.
- Once again, Our Pride & Stature as a Manufacturing Nation has gone into the proverbial "Shitter". Much Like the USA and the for example the Seattle Boeing Corporation whose Government handed a Multi Billion dollar Plane deal to France. Canada relied on that money too in our Canadian based Boeing plants as well.
- Though we have a labour crisis and actively seek Mexican workers to come here to fill that labour void, why cannot we get Mexicans to come here to our Burnaby plant to help out? This way Mexican Workers would get a much more lucrative living wage, instead of a Mexican minimum working wage and we would have them to stay here as Tax Paying Productive Canadians.
- Our Taxes Support and Pay for BC Ferries and Deas Pacific Marine who are World Class Excellent Ship Builders, though this Liberal Government saw fit to award all our ship building contracts to Germany.
Whose Fault is it, this happens time and time again?
- Perhaps it is all the British Columbians who Historically always Vote for Lefty Liberal Idiots, hence why there are never any Provincial Fiscal Conservative Candidates in this Province since the 1960s to run against them.
What can we do about this economic disaster in losing our Birthright as a Manufacturing Nation?
I would reply with "You tell me!", but you already know the answer to that poser! You vote for Liberal Idiocy!
Time for Canadians to take back their Birthright, for you, your children and your Children's Children. Because it is hard to be a nation of consumers when you do not have the cash to pay for it. Not to mention no cash to pay for all the social programs, health care, and Pension you won't be getting, or at least your children will not see the light of day. Explain that to your kids, when they are unemployed and living in your basement well into middle age.
Wake Up Canada !!
SkyTrains to be built in MexicoFrank Luba, The ProvincePublished: Sunday, April 13, 2008
New SkyTrain cars announced as part of a $150-million expansion of the TransLink fleet will be built by Canadian company Bombardier -- in Mexico.
The fleet expansion, aided by $47 million in provincial money, was decided on at the March 28 meeting of the new professional TransLink board held behind closed doors. Details were not revealed until the official announcement Friday.
The money will expand the current fleet of approximately 1,300 conventional buses and community shuttles by 103 "green" buses.The purchase includes 20 articulated, zero-emission electric trolleys; 11 articulated, diesel-electric hybrid buses; and 72 standard-size diesel-electric coaches that burn 20-per-cent cleaner, according to TransLink, than its "clean" diesel or compressed natural gas buses.Also part of the fleet expansion are 14 additional SkyTrain cars that will be in service by February 2010.Already on order are 34 of the Mark II Bombardier cars. The additional cars will bump the fleet to 258 cars.Doug Kelsey, who runs TransLink's rapid-transit division, said customers won't notice a difference between the previous Mark II vehicles built in a now-closed facility in Burnaby and the new Mexican Mark II. But there will be updates, like a newer linear-induction propulsion system.Because there are so few SkyTrain systems, Bombardier only produces the cars when there is an order."It's highly expensive to shut it down and then start it up," said Kelsey of producing the cars, which cost about $3 million each."You want to keep the production run going," he said.Kelsey explained that getting more trains will allow TransLink to run more four-car trains to address the congestion that plagues peak hours.The combination of bus and SkyTrain expansion fits within the province's $14-billion provincial transit plan, according to Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon. "This is our first instalment of our new commitments in the provincial transit plan," said Falcon.Despite the transit boost, the provincial government remains under fire from opponents of the Gateway Program to twin the Port Mann Bridge and widen the Trans-Canada Highway.Those opponents see expansion of roads as a contradiction when the push is on to reduce vehicle traffic and the resulting emissions.A demonstration against Gateway will be held at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow outside Canada Place.fluba@png.canwest.com
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Barry Artiste
Vancouver, Canada
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at 16:26 on April 13th, 2008
Hmm...Barry, might I suggest that this article belong in the Tech&Biz channel...articles on the economy are usually posted there. Thanks!
at 16:34 on April 13th, 2008
I linked it as Tech & Biz, but also World as it is also more of a social political statment as well
at 16:52 on April 13th, 2008
Thanks, I hope you don't mind but I added a BC tag so that the post will appear on Local channels for members in the BC area~~
at 17:55 on April 13th, 2008
Trust me Cynthia , every Opinion piece I post has a BC tag, Local, Vancouver etc. Certainly no good without one. I thought Local meant appearing on the BC tag, Thanks Cynthia, it is much appreciated to know in future
at 19:02 on April 13th, 2008
Hello Barry,
Another great opinion piece (of course!) for myself and other readers to experience. I was thinking about you the other day and what it is exactly that draws me to your articles time and time again.
It eventually came to me - it's your passion. It curls itself around every word for the reader to feel and experience - and I thank you for that.
~ Swan
at 19:34 on April 13th, 2008
Thanks for the kind words Swan, yes I have a passion for the future well being of this country and it's people, I have seen a lot, done a lot, served my country overseas, staying in countries most foul that most would have nightmares. if allowed to show on TV, in addition to my profession for the past 10 years where I see more crap and despair in a day than anyone sees in two lifetimes, right in our province in which I report on Now Public with great regularity, though keep tame by comparsion for obvious reasons. I do not care of some do not share my passion, though in BC most who I meet find passion in their possessions and self grandeur of all talk and no action, placing more importance in their life's enjoyment consisting of a Starbucks Low Fat Latte, giving Answers to a question no one asked, whether it be Britney or a recent CSI episode they think is real life. I forego a lot in my career, which sadly means less time to the ones I love. Somedays I wish I could say No, and be complacent and uncaring, but my Parents raised me differently in a time when conservative values, everyone is equal and actually doing something positive in helping your fellow man and Country meant something. We have lost that and I feel we will never get it back.
Thanks for the flag and comments Swan, so greatly appreciated
at 23:19 on April 14th, 2008
Wow! What a drama! As far as how we Americans feel about it, all I personally can say is "Join the club!"
Frankly rather have manufacturing, etc., outsourced to Mexico than to China, maybe the illegal immigrants from Mexico will decide to go home if there are jobs there.
at 20:05 on December 19th, 2008
Wow what a drama is right and its not over to the last train is built so to speak but later when Canadians are not so down on their luck as it a foolish for a people in need of employment to be buidling trains that don't create employment. So later allegator unless once again people play the fool.