tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11892162.comments2015-10-10T14:57:12.631-07:00The Insider - BC LobbyistMichael Geogheganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948001471822296785noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11892162.post-75382927845528212112008-09-20T13:04:00.000-07:002008-09-20T13:04:00.000-07:00An excellent point!An excellent point!Michael Geogheganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11948001471822296785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11892162.post-13966465713500424522008-09-20T13:01:00.000-07:002008-09-20T13:01:00.000-07:00With the hotly contested election happening in Esq...With the hotly contested election happening in Esquimalt Juan de Fuca I am surprised that none of the candidates have had much to say about Victoria shipyard. The shipyard employs between 600 and 850 people which when you include spouses means that well over a thousand votes are up for grabs.<BR/><BR/>We were certainly pleased by the federal government’s decision to proceed with a $1.1 billion upgrade of our navy’s frigates. What we were not so pleased with was the decision to postpone the construction of 12 new Coastguard patrol vessels.<BR/><BR/>As a nation either we are serious about maintaining our sovereignty or we are not. Maintaining the capability to patrol our own waters is critical but so is the ability to build our own ships.<BR/><BR/>The frigate modernization plan will not get underway until 2010. So what are the apprentices and journeypersons that the unions and shipyard have been training in the meantime supposed to do? Unless quick action is taken to get the Coastguard ship building contract back many of them will end up leaving for the Alberta oilsands.<BR/><BR/>Sincerely,<BR/><BR/><BR/>Dale Dhillon<BR/>Business Manager UA local 324Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com