The Vancouver Commercial Seaplane Operators Association (VCSOA) supports an independent review into the construction of a floatplane terminal at the Vancouver Convention Centre, but says such a review must include an examination of the BC Pavillion Corp. (PavCo).
This response comes after last week’s recommendation by PAVCO chairman David Podmore that in order for negotiations to resume between the VCSOA and the managers of the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (VHFC), an independent review was required. (See “Third party needed to resolve floatplane terminal dispute” – BIV Business Today, February 25.)
The VCSOA has requested the provincial Ombudsperson’s Office review the facts behind the construction of the $22 million passenger terminal, originally budgeted at $11 million.
Greg McDougall, president of the VCSOA and Harbour Air, said the public needed to understand “how and why a monopoly created by a government agency is trying to force the public and floatplane operators to use a facility that is more than 100% over original cost estimates.”
Mike Quinn, owner of Whistler Air and VCSOA vice-president, added, “It’s time we find out why PavCo supports squeezing out floatplane operators from running a not-for-profit facility and prefers signing a deal with developers who stand to make millions of dollars a year from fees on the travelling public.”
The VCSOA is continuing its efforts to build the Harbour Hub, a non-profit, multi-modal passenger terminal east of Canada Place that would link passengers to public transit, Helijet services and passenger ferries.
Calls to PavCo were not returned by press deadline.