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The ruling Liberal Party, one of the most durable governments in B.C.’s political history, rode to power excoriating cost overruns on a disastrous plan to revitalize B.C. Ferries with fast catamarans. Costs for the ferries doubled and the new ships were delivered three years behind schedule. They became symbols of the economic incompetence of the New Democrats.

Have the Liberals caught the same disease? Political columnist Vaughn Palmer’s look at the financials for the Evergreen rapid transit line linking the Tri-Cities to the SkyTrain system suggest it’s possible. Despite government spin about the project being on budget and on time (“Another day, another bogus claim,” Palmer’s column wryly began), its share of the project is 43 per cent over budget — the initial provincial commitment of $410 million has swollen to $586 million — and it is projected to come in three years late.

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The South Fraser Perimeter Road came in a year late, and the provincial share was 42 per cent over budget (B.C. had to assume the entire cost overrun because Ottawa capped its contribution). Overall, says Dermod Travis of Integrity B.C., the Gateway transportation plan — other components include the Port Mann Bridge replacement, widening of the Trans-Canada Highway, and the North Fraser Perimeter Road — overshot budget estimates by more than $2 billion. Travis warns that of 18 projects announced by the B.C. government since 2003, nine hospitals are over-budget by 12.6 per cent, seven transportation projects are 59.2 per cent over budget, and the Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project and a new roof for B.C. Place were 68.1 per cent over budget.