This is hilarious.
A cynical sham this tendering offer story has been.
On the heels of Maclean's corruption article, Charest pulls this off.
It's remarkable Bombardier gets contracts at all internationally seeing how we close off foreign companies from taking meaningful part in the bidding process. I don't care that Bombardier got the contract, what I care about is the stinky process it used to get it.
Did anyone really expect anything different from Premier Charest?
At this point, just nationalize Bombardier and spare us the pseudo-capitalism theatrics.
Profoundly saddened.
You forget the "Alstom" part of the deal. The consortium getting the deal is "Bombardier/Alstom" and that makes it an international venture, no?
ReplyDeleteIf you buy that...
ReplyDeleteThe issue is not that they got the deal. The isssue is HOW they got it.
I wouldn't mind knowing why the Spanish company was frozen out. They met all the government and Metro criteria including the "60% must be built demand."
ReplyDeleteAll that and with a cheaper price tag.
Make that the "60% must be built here" demand.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure C.A.F. could guarantee the 60% here criteria, in this case "here" meant in Québec. C.A.F. hinted at using the former Honda installations in Bromont and that would have required lenghty delays, haven't we had enough delays up to now?
ReplyDeleteIt may look fishy, but it is the sensible solution. Granted the by-election in the county around La Pocatière" was also a factor.
They did guarantee it and it was approved. Bombardier can just as easily outsource parts of the production.
ReplyDeleteAh, the ends justifies the means!
You just answered why it stinks: Political expediency. I'm sure we're on the wrong end of such things abroad when we bid but why would we risk our own black mark in the future?
If this is what passes for sensible God help us all.
The delays are thanks to cronyism.
I no longer trust anything done between Bombardier and the government. It's way too cozy a relationship.
You may be right...still I'd rather have it here than in Madrid or Peking.
ReplyDeleteLet me play devil's advocate about what you just said.
ReplyDeleteDo you mind when Bombardier gets a contract, say, in the U.S. or India?
What's that saying? Turn around is fair play?
And in today's global market place, nationalist sentiment makes little sense. The company might be Headquartered in Madrid but the operations would be here for this project. It's a standard requirement for all international companies they hire the majority of the workforce here.
I don't want to ever hear Canadians complain if, say, the Americans go protectionist on us or don't act in good faith when it comes to bidding. Because we know how thin-skinned we can be.