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B.C. to manage Provincial Capital Commission assets

Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development shakes up PCC structure

Management of key downtown properties, such as Crystal Garden and the CPR Terminal Building, is changing hands.

On Tuesday, the B.C. Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development announced the shakeup.

“As part of an overall cross-government review of Crown corporations and agencies, we are restructuring the Provincial Capital Commission so that it can focus on its mandate to provide community outreach programs,” according to a prepared statement by the ministry.

The PCC is an agency run by a board composed of regional politicians. In 1977, the provincial government broadened its mandate to include stewardship of six downtown properties.

This governance, however, was publicly questioned in April 2011, after the PCC. rejected all three proponents bidding for tenancy in the CPR Terminal Building.

“In my opinion the (Provincial Capital Commission) is not effectively managing the assets,” wrote Bob Wright of the Oak Bay Marine Group, whose bid was rejected, in a letter to Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong.

In response, Chong agreed to have her staff look at Wright’s concerns, and examine the PCC board.

The board will maintain its decision-making powers. However, financial services and property management services will now be handled by the ministry and by Shared Services B.C.

The change will save an estimated $200,000.

The agency employs 12 people, half of which manage the properties and half co-ordinate outreach initiatives.