"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Thursday 24 November 2011

Continuum of Previous Post

Something is up with my keyboard. I may have fixed it. But I'm not exactly sure how.

I was saying:

The government made the decision during the election campaign to cancel  construction of a gas fired  power generation plant being built in Missausaga to replace the dirty coal-fired generation plant which Hazel made them promise to shut down during the previous election.

Questions were asked why  construction did not actually stop.

People said; "What about the  money already spent? "

Understandably so.

The answer, not provided, would have been problematic. Only now has construction stopped.

The process to arrive at  a contract award and construction underway is  lengthy and  hugely expensive for all parties .

It can be stopped . But only by agreeing to pay. Oh My how we pay.

Quite possibly full cost of the contract. Whatever horrendous amount that might be.

Awarding  a government contract is  more  than a friendly handshake. Engines crank into high gear which cannot be shut down.

Materials are not bought off the shelf.  They have to be manufactured for the purpose.

Manpower has to be in place for the term of the contract.

Funds have to be secured pending government payments.

Everything  swings into gear, at great expense, for governments  plans to be realised.

Once the contract is signed and sealed both parties are obligated . No ifs ands or buts.  

If the government changes its mind. The government pays.

A contractors with a legal contract  for  a mega million dollar project cannot be bankrupted because politicians conduct themselves like flibberty-gibbet teen-age divas driven by hormones during election campaigns, while going about with solemn countenance  and inspiring hand gestures to  instill  confidence and trust among the people.

So..... When ......

The Minister Stated

  there is a need, “to examine everything the government does, piece by piece, to find creative, efficient and effective ways to deliver public services.” 

He was kidding....... right .....  Yeah right.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Which sort of brings us back to that contract with
the Dept. of Defence. How can we decide if the deal
struck as the perpetrators were fleeing the sinking
ship was an honorable one if we cannot examine it.
Each time you pause and think that's the end of it,
another loose and costly arrangement floats to the
surface.

Anonymous said...

You can't leave it to staff as they are not responsible
to the electors, only interested in feathering their ownlittle nests. One example is at Hydro where you
get paid according to the number of people on your crew. You can bet each foreman 'needs' a large crew.
We are seeing this now here withe the 'need' for more
staff, more space, more autonomy.