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- June 19 - When a contract may no longer be a contract
June 19 - When a contract may no longer be a contract
Plus: It's way down the road, but look for a TCH foot & bike overpass at Tillicum
Mark Brennae
June 19, 2024
Good morning !
We begin the day with change. Change in how some institutions want to tender contracts. Change in how some pedestrians and cyclists could be getting around the TCH, and change in how a ferry system has been working on Denman Island.
Oh, and I get the feeling a certain teenager isn’t going to be handed the keys to a car anytime soon.
— Mark
Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
‘Contract A’ change spells construction industry concerns
Construction in the city. Photo courtesy City of Victoria
The BC Construction Association (BCCA) has issued a provincewide alert in response to reports that several public owners have opted to remove the Contract A stage from their procurement processes.
Contract A—a cornerstone of Canadian contract law—ensures fairness and transparency by stipulating terms such as deadlines, evaluation criteria, and bid security requirements.
The absence of a Contract A allows an owner to accept a non-compliant bid and eliminates the obligation to be fair to bidders. The owner doesn’t have to evaluate bids per the terms of the initial call for tenders.
“Contract A plays a vital role in ensuring a fair, transparent, and legally binding framework for the bidding process in construction contracts,” Rory Kulmala, CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association tells Capital Daily.
“It helps maintain the integrity of the procurement process, protects the interests of both owners and bidders, and provides a clear legal basis for resolving disputes.”
The BCCA says removing these standardized contracts raises concerns about potential impacts on trust, collaboration, and accountability in procurement practices.
Michael Demers, legal counsel for BCCA, said the move could expose contractors to risks without adequate legal recourse, potentially compromising the integrity of public-sector procurement.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Missing person: Jeffrey, 36, last seen in Rock Bay. [VicPD]
Missing person: Kamara Landry, 17, last seen in Nanaimo. [RCMP]
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
Saanich gets funding for pedestrian and cyclist bridge for Goose
Cyclists cross the Trans Canada at Tillicum. Photo: Flickr
It’s part of the province’s clean transportation action plan to build infrastructure on ministry-owned rights of way. The province has put up $85M to be split among 11 projects across BC, but there was no immediate word on how much Saanich will get.
Cycling advocate and former Victoria city councillor John Luton says building a Goose overpass crossing the Trans-Canada at Tillicum will eliminate delays for trail users who often must wait a few light changes for traffic to clear to proceed. “It also will enhance their comfort and safety,” he says, adding they won’t be facing turning vehicles.
“Drivers are not always watchful for trail traffic, particularly at busy, complex intersections like this one,” the self-employed transportation consultant tells Capital Daily.
Luton calls it an opportunity to widen the trail and provide separation. “A good design will ensure the deck of the new overpass has ample space for diverse users traveling on wheels (including e-bikes) while providing some defined separate space for pedestrians that could be a template for the at-grade level trail sections east and west of the new crossing.”
Luton says with the rapid growth in e-bike usage, it’s important and timely to expand capacity and tailor the trails for safety and comfort.
NEWS
Denman Islander wants an investigation into cable ferry
Baynes Sound Connector cable ferry is seen shuttling from Buckley Bay. Photo by Madeline Dunnett/The Discourse
BC Ferries runs one of the world’s longest cable ferries. It’s between Denman and Buckley Bay in the Comox Valley. Introduced in 2016, the ferry was built to cut costs, but delays and disruptions have drawn frustration from Denman residents in the years since.
BC Ferries says the route is much improved this year, with the number of mechanical cancellations down 40%, and that the route has recorded above-average reliability across the BC Ferries system. In 2021, the ferry commissioner determined the cable ferry was delivering better service overall than its pre-2016 conventional ferry.
But one resident, Gracie MacDonald, is calling for a private investigation after a cancellation helped worsen her ailing brother's experience of his final days. The family hired a private boat to get him back to the hospital on the mainland.
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⭐️ Capital Picks
🦅⚔🦅 Eagles fight in the sky for control of Colwood airspace. [Tony Austin photo]
🍷 Victoria International Wine Festival tickets are now on sale.
😔 Are you feeling lonely these days? Your community foundation is here to help. Read how people are forging new friendships and purpose in an age of disconnect.*
⚾🖊️ Manny Ramirez autograph session for Our Place. [Registration]
🤗 MLA Grace Lore’s constituency office is here to help. We can connect you with available government or community supports. Contact us today!*
🤝 Now hiring: 1st or 2nd Cook at The Blue Poppy Restaurant at The Butchart Gardens.
*Sponsored Listing
🗞️ In Other News
Fines for illegal hunting & fishing in BC go up drastically
Penalties hadn’t increased in 20+ years and now the province has tripled them. Effective yesterday, fines range from $345 to $1,495—that heavy one for hunting big game off-season or possessing threatened or endangered species. More than 1K tickets for various Wildlife Act offences were issued last year, totalling $200K+ in fines, the gov’t said. [BC Gov’t]
Your opinion wanted: new RapidBus linking Uptown to UVic
BC Transit and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission plan to add Route 96 Blink, a RapidBus line moving riders along McKenzie “in the blink of an eye.” Look for possible changes to routes 24, 25, 26, and 72. There also are plans for a new Route 16. There are public sessions to find out what you think about this today in Esquimalt and at UVic, and tomorrow at Uptown. There’s also an online survey open until July 2. [BC Transit]
Learner’s permit teen clocked at 121 km/h in a 50 zone in Oak Bay
The 16-year-old was caught on Foul Bay at 1:45 in the morning last Fri. The car had three passengers and police said there was an open container of cannabis. The teen received $800+ in fines for speeding, having too many passengers, operating a motor vehicle with cannabis in it, and failing to display his learner’s designation. The vehicle—owned by one of the passengers’ parents—was impounded for seven days. [Oak Bay Police]
VicPD shoots dog while arresting man on Ellice, near Gorge East
At 3:30 Mon. morning, an officer was attempting to arrest a man with warrants when a dog from a nearby tent “lunged aggressively” toward them. The dog began to chase the officer who then shot it, CHEK News reports. An officer with the canine unit attended to the animal—which had been deemed dangerous and required to be muzzled—but it died of its injuries. [CHEK]
‘Swifty Swindle’ hits Oak Bay with faux Taylor Swift tickets
Last Tue., two people each paid more than $2K for tickets that turned out to be bogus. In each case, the victim thought Facebook friends were selling them the tickets. Instead, it was a hacker asking for $500 to $600 each. [Times Colonist]
SPONSORED
Andrew Wilkinson showcases Never Enough in exclusive book launch event
Join local entrepreneur and investor Andrew Wilkinson on July 9, 7pm at Bolen Books at The Hillside Shopping Centre for the launch of his debut memoir, Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire. This will be the first public reading from Andrew’s highly anticipated memoir, detailing his journey from college dropout to tech investor and businessman.
🗓️ Things to do
🤼 365 Pro Wrestling. Double Header. A matinee for all ages and a night of violence. White Eagle Polish Hall. Sat. 2pm & 7pm. [Info]
🎤 Ska & Reggae Festival: The 25th annual music festival begins today with events across the city. Until July 6. [Info]
🖼️ Indigenous Arts and Culture: Celebrate Indigenous contributions to art on the Island and in Canada at the Colwood Arts and Culture Society. Today through Sat. 10am-3pm. Sun. 12-4pm. [Info]
🧑🌾 Composting Basics Workshop: Head to the Central Saanich Cultural Centre to get some tips on successful composting. Today. 6:30pm. [Info]
🎹 Louise Rose: Back at Hermann’s with her “Alone Together” series, Rose will perform solo jazz vocals and piano. Tonight. 7pm. [Info]
🎭 Matilda the Musical: See this musical about a powerful little girl, based on the book by Roald Dahl. Charlie White Theatre. Tomorrow and Fri. 6:30pm. Sat. and Sun. 1:30pm, 6:30pm. [Info]
🎷 Jazz Fest Victoria: Check out this festival of shows happening at Bullen Park, Hermann’s, and Wicket Hall. Grab tickets to individual shows or purchase a full festival pass. Runs Fri. until June 30. [Info]
💁 Want more events? Subscribe to This Week In Vic and get our weekly events newsletter every Tue.
👀 In Case You Missed It
Tuesday headlines: Cougar bites Canadian rugby captain; Cascadia Liquor strike ends after 43 days; Major affordable housing project on Saanich horizon; And more. [June 18]
Guaranteed income is a good idea, says Vic Council. [Capital Daily]
BC kelp forests fortified by UVic researchers. [Capital Daily]
Saanich garbage collection schedule is changing on July 3.
Uptown pickleball courts are slated to open on July 5.
Seaspan fined $710K for Vic Shipyards carbon monoxide poisoning. [CHEK]
See Baby owls huddled in a tree in Metchosin. [Photos]
That’s it!
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