The NDP’s costly manipulation harms Springhill, Antigonish and all taxpayers

 

SPRINGHILL, NS - Cumberland South MLA and Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie says the recent tender awarded for construction of a 100 cell jail in Pictou County is proof that the NDP mismanaged the jail construction process, costing taxpayers millions of dollars in extra costs.

 

"The NDP manipulated the jail construction process to cancel two viable projects, in Springhill and Antigonish, in favour of one project in Pictou. As a result, taxpayers are now on the hook for $7.5 million in extra construction costs," said Baillie.

 

The recently awarded tender for a 100-cell jail in Pictou County comes in at $38.5 million, which is $7.5 million more than originally budgeted. It is also $2 million dollars more than the total cost of the two 50-cell facilities originally proposed.

 

"The NDP promised the people of Cumberland County, and Antigonish, that they would honour the construction commitments of the previous government. This is another cynical, NDP broken promise, and it is going to cost all taxpayers millions more than necessary as a result," Baillie added.

 

Had the original commitment been honoured, construction would have started on the Springhill facility in 2009-2010, and any subsequent inflationary increases in costs would have been avoided. In addition, the Springhill site offered several operating cost advantages related to working together with the existing federal institution.

 

Baillie says that cynical NDP politics and gross mismanagement have led to the current situation.

 

"Spending millions more than needed is a costly reminder to the people of Springhill and Antigonish that the NDP don't care about investments and jobs in their communities. Nova Scotians deserve a government that works for all of the province," Baillie concluded.  

 

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