Vancouver airport, port dispute MP’s suggestion of catastrophic flood risk
OTTAWA — A Liberal MP has been taken to task by the Vancouver airport and port authorities for suggesting their facilities are at risk of catastrophic flooding.
Adam Vaughan made the suggestion in an interview earlier this week as he defended the federal government’s plan to lure private-sector partners to invest in public infrastructure.
He gave fortifying the levees and dikes around the port of Vancouver as an example of the kinds of projects that could be funded by the proposed new infrastructure bank, calling it “stupid” and “bloody irresponsible” to let fear of involving the private sector put the port and nearby airport at risk of catastrophic flooding.
Vancouver Airport Authority CEO Craig Richmond has written Vaughan to register his concern that the Toronto MP’s comments could erode public confidence in the airport and put it “at a competitive disadvantage by erroneous information.”