BC NDP

Feeling heat for their misplaced priorities, the Campbell Liberals are trying to spread misleading information about the B.C. Place roof.

Here are the facts:

- In May 2006, the Campbell government brushed off warnings that it needed to move quickly on replacing the roof, saying "the roof is expected to last another 15 or 20 years" (Olga Ilich, Hansard, May 1, 2006).

- A June 2006 report clearly told the Campbell government that the stadium needed structural improvements, but the B.C. Liberals refused to take action. And they've refused to make the report's details public.

- In January 2007 the roof collapsed.

- By March 2008, the Campbell government was forced to admit that the roof would need to be replaced, saying "There is a maximum of about four years before we have to replace it. So what we are endeavouring to do is to replace it before the Games" (David Podmore, Vancouver Sun, Mar. 6, 2008).

- By the time the B.C. Liberal government eventually announced a plan to replace the roof in January 2009, costs had exploded. But despite plummeting government revenues, Gordon Campbell went with a fully-loaded, retractable roof, rather than a more affordable design.

So the real question is: after stalling for years while costs skyrocketed, why is Gordon Campbell pushing forward with a pricey $365 million plan while families across the province are struggling to make ends meet? At times like these, why choose a Lamborghini when a Honda will do just fine?