B.C. politicians resort to ‘Flash Gordon’ device to monitor legislature dome movements

VICTORIA – British Columbia politicians are preparing to use what one assembly member says is a Flash Gordon-type device to monitor any movements of the provincial legislature’s green dome.

An all-party committee of the legislature decided today to bring in an accelerometer to measure movements of the dome at the more than 100-year-old building.

Speaker of the Legislature Linda Reid says the device will be attached to the dome area and is capable detecting any movement.

New Democrat committee member John Horgan says the measuring device sounds like it’s straight out the space movie “Flash Gordon,” but at least it relieves public tensions about the building’s safety.

Last month, the committee heard that the green dome with its golden statue of Capt. George Vancouver on its top is twisting and in need of repairs worth at least $6 million.

Reid says the dome’s movements were last reported seven years ago and this accelerometer will be able to provide up-to-date measurements, possibly saving millions in repairs.