As an Abbotsford resident, I share the concerns expressed in media and your editorial with the proposed P3 water contract.
Now, by way of local media, I find out that the city is spending our money on a $200,000 education campaign, which is a blatant deception.
An education campaign is specifically designed to provide an equitable representation of both sides of an issue, so voters can make informed and unbiased decisions. This campaign is manipulation, and not the practice of good government.
The City of Abbotsford, with the exception of Coun. Patricia Ross, is promoting a P3 agenda. Many of us, myself included, do not fully understand the details involved in public-private partnerships, because those details are a part of the selective information left out.
However, the City of Abbotsford provides an excellent example of how public-private partnerships actually work. A few years back our city engaged in an education campaign to borrow $85 million so for an arts and entertainment program (Plan A).
Upon completion, investors brought in the Abbotsford Heat AHL team with a 10-year contract guaranteeing a minimum profit threshold. In year two, we are contractually bound to pay a $1.3 million shortfall.
Following our previous so-called education campaign things have not gone as expected for the average taxpayer.
Facing a $300 million agenda, turned down by our Mission neighbours, $200,000 is being spent in what appears to be an investor agenda.
Would it not be reasonable to ask who stands to gain from this P3 contract? Especially if it’s not the taxpayer?
Evans Nicholson