Britco benefits from $100M contract, premier visit

PENTICTON – The wide-ranging benefits of liquid natural gas was the message shared by Premier Christy Clark and Britco today.

The premier was in town touring Britco for the second time to talk about the province's natural gas resources, B.C. Jobs Plan and what the B.C. government has done to up employment. She and Britco president Mike Ridley also announced the company's $100-million contract to build 1,500 rooms for a large housing project in northern Alberta. Devon Energy Corp. needs more living space for its oil sand projects.

"Companies like this one are what B.C. jobs are all about," Clark says to Britco's 250 employees at its Penticton operation. A few of those employees mention Clark's visit probably cost the company tens of thousands of dollars in lost production time and employee wages but having her here is still a benefit to the business. A few other employees were happy to see Clark again after her first visit during the last provincial election.

Following the presentation Clark tells reporters even if the price of natural gas is low in North America, due to an overabundance, this continent is not the only customer. China, India and other nations are willing to pay a good amount.

She also defended her government's job efforts and says the Liberals are making the province more business-friendly.

Also it wouldn't be a visit to Penticton if the premier wasn't asked about the progress of the proposed hospital expansion. She and MLA Dan Ashton say there are now three consultants being considered to work on the new patient care tower's business plan.

To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065, tweet @shannonquesnel1 or @InfoNewsPentict