Hopefully the job is awarded to IDL or Forbes. They are local companies. Like Canfor, their 'roots are in this community'
metalman.

Metalman, why does everybody have the conception that IDL is local, they are owned by a clack union company (Drivers) out of Edmonton!!! The only local company of all of the bidders is Forbes, they should get the job.

IDL is local. Head office is in PG.
Most of the owners live in PG. What does Drivers (being clack or not) have to do with anything? They (IDL) are more than capable of doing the work and I am sure Forbes is too.

Independent DRIVERs Limited, formerly Independent CONTRACTORS Limited until they ran out of dough.

red2b, you talk about most of the owners living in PG. Check your facts!!!

Okay, let's not argue about the ownership.
Would you agree that there are a lot of local people employed by IDL? Or do they all commute to Nanaimo (JV Driver) or to Edmonton? Some of the principals live here, I know that for sure. Who owns what and how much? they keep us all guessing. It's all their business anyway, not ours.
metalman.

'ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY'? Canfor? Please tell me what drugs you are smoking. Canfor used to keep the money local, and same with the other companies mentioned. Yes, the workforce may be a majority of local people but the money they spent lines someones pocket down south, even in USA. They no longer take care of the local inependant business people. Canfor is so 1980's - PG doesnt need them anymore, they are more of a bother than anything else.

metalman, you are right pointless to argue about who owns what or where. these guys are very capable of doing this job, as well are the other companies that offered tenders. i just like "to stir it up" once in while.

"Independent DRIVERs Limited, formerly Independent CONTRACTORS Limited until they ran out of dough."
What a laugh! And you know this how?

They are more than capable to build the bridge- both manpower wise and financial wise.

Yeah, well if they're the ones that left 5 million+ on the table they'll run out of dough soon enough!!

Get it done by the best people for the best price.

Let's not just give it to the locals because they are local.
That's asking for getting screwed.

The intent from the get go,was to give this contract to local people. Thats what it is all about. Lets see what happens.

Surely you havent been duped into beleiving that we actually needed a new bridge.

This is a prime example of buying the Brooklyn bridge. $15 Million new bridge versus a $750,000.00 repair job.(Vintage Pr George)

The reason we are in debt, build huge buildings that are continuslly under used. Send our politicians to China etc; is because we are dupes.

We write flowery words about different problems, or we wring our hands and cry, or we shove our heads in the ground and state that the complete failure of the Amphetex and hot water pipe line was actually a success.

Does anyone in this **One Horse Town** ever try to get the facts on a situation and do something about it. I doubt it.
The national pastime seems to be bitching, bellyaching, and complaining, then back to the chips and beer.

We will (Should) have an opportunity to protest the building of the Co-Generation plant downtown. Lets see if we can get some of the so called **concerned citizens** off their collective asses and get them to hold a sign or at least congregate.

"congregate" ?????

we might need a pastor for that :-)

Local contractors are always out to screw up the price.
They think people are behind them because they are local.
Well, I think ripping off local tax payers is not in the best interest of the community. Bitching, whining and "one horse town" has nothing to do with it. I want council to spend my tax money wisely.

Why and how would local contractors screw up the price? I don't understand!!!

If you want Council to spend your tax money wisely you would be protesting the building of this bridge period.
It is in the wrong location and keeps hazardous goods and big trucks moving through the bowl.
It is better kept "as is", a foot and cycling bridge to connect with the Cottonwood trail and the trail system. Plus it is a great piece of heritage.

Why and how would local contractors screw up the price? I don't understand!
------------------------------------

I don't understand it either but I know it happens a lot.
Ask the contractors.

Foo738 has it right.

The local contractor (IDL) got the contract for $9.6 Million which just happened to be the Citys budgeted number.

The City has a contingency of 20% Approx $2 Million Dollars. You can rest assured that at the end of the day this $2 Million will be paid to IDL plus a lot more.