Editor:
Is the lowest bidder a good flight plan for a municipality?
After reading the economic development article (Coast Reporter, Oct. 26), I wonder if the "lowest bidder" philosophy is a good one. Maybe Montreal's experience in that matter can be useful. If the Sunshine Coast Regional District can get $60,000 interest from the North Shore Credit Union (NSCU), how much does the NSCU get from our $11.5 million investment? Enough to greatly improve their services? Enough to allow them to give a lot back to the community? Enough to create a job? Two jobs? More? Was the difference so significant between the NSCU and the Sunshine Coast Credit Union bids? Significant enough that it wasn't worth the return in terms of services or jobs?
In the airline industry, if someone's vision is too weak, that person cannot become a pilot. In the public service sector, our leaders are like pilots. If one of our leaders doesn't have a good vision, maybe it would be a good idea to give the conception of the flight plan to someone else, before that person crashes the plane with 10,000 people aboard!
Marc Theriault, Sechelt
