Paying $645,000 for an outside washroom is just a case of flushing Vancouver taxpayers’ money down the toilet, says the Canadian Taxpayers Federation..The City of Vancouver plans to put the posh poo palace in Coopers’ Park..But the price tag is causing stomach rumblings for Kris Sims, the CTF’s B.C. director..“It looks like provincial and local governments are flushing money down the drain here,” Sims told the Western Standard..“Most contractors could typically build a couple of nice houses for the cost of this public toilet installation, so, we need the City of Vancouver to come clean and tell us why this is so expensive.” .Sims said her group will file freedom of information requests to get details on the lavish loo..“Was the soil contaminated? Did they need to use special piping since it’s installed near the water? We need to get to the bottom of this and know why this cost so much,” said Sims..Postmedia reported the prefabricated toilet, built by an Oregon-based company called Portland Loo, only costs $150,000..The rest of the money will pay for sanitary and water connections into the park, and structural pad installation and landscaping..A similar facility is being installed in Prince George – but it is only costing that city $200,000..Maintaining the unit is estimated to be mid-range of $30,000 per year..It is expected the loo will be ready for desperate customers in the fall..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
