Doerkson asks outgoing NDP to stop new Massey tunnel contracts before he takes office
Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson has written to the outgoing NDP government asking it to issue no new contracts, change orders or approvals on the Massey tunnel replacement before his government is sworn in on November 20.
Announcement. A campaign, a party or the City chose to say this. voche.me reports it as their claim. Read the original report on nanaimobulletin.com.
Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson has written to the outgoing NDP government asking it to make no new contracts, change orders or approvals on the Massey tunnel replacement project before his cabinet is sworn in on November 20, 2026. The Nanaimo News Bulletin reported the request on November 12, with the story also carried by the Vernon Morning Star, Abbotsford News, Chilliwack Progress and Oak Bay News.
Doerkson said he is asking for a pause on new commitments, not a full work stop. "We are not asking for all work to stop," Doerkson said, as reported by the Nanaimo News Bulletin. "Work that is necessary should continue until cabinet is in a position to finalize the project's direction. We should not be spending more money or making new commitments that lock British Columbians into the tunnel option before the incoming government has completed its review."
Doerkson called the situation "disheartening" but acknowledged he has no authority to direct government until after the swearing-in.
What the platform promises
The Conservative Party of BC's platform, page 11, commits to building a new 10-lane George Massey Bridge and dropping the tunnel project. Page 57 says the bridge will be built within the $8.5 billion already set aside for the crossing, and that the government will publish the bridge's budget and schedule before construction begins. Page 57 also commits to asking Ottawa to apply its contribution of up to $3 billion toward the bridge rather than the tunnel.
Those are the party's own figures. No independent cost estimate comparing the bridge and tunnel options has been published.
Construction on the tunnel replacement began in January 2026 under the NDP government. Ottawa has committed up to $3 billion toward the project. The Nanaimo News Bulletin reports Doerkson said he has had "good conversations" with the federal government about redirecting that money toward a bridge. No formal announcement of a redirect has been made.
What Doerkson is asking to be stopped
Doerkson's request covers new contracts, contract amendments, change orders, procurement decisions, approvals and any other commitments on the Massey crossing that would go beyond work already in progress. He says the incoming government needs time to review the project before any new binding decisions are made.
The NDP government had not publicly responded to the request as of the time the Nanaimo News Bulletin published its report.
What the platform tracker shows
The Conservative platform includes three Massey-related promises tracked on this site: build a 10-lane George Massey Bridge, publish the bridge's budget and schedule before construction begins, and ask Ottawa to apply its contribution toward the bridge. This request is the first public action taken toward those promises before the government takes office.
You can follow the status of these promises at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-george-massey-bridge.
Lorne Doerkson won the Cariboo-Chilcotin district on October 24 and will be sworn in as premier on November 20.
Questions this story answers
What exactly is Doerkson asking the NDP government to stop?
Doerkson is asking the outgoing NDP government to issue no new contracts, contract amendments, change orders, procurement decisions, approvals or other commitments on the Massey tunnel replacement project during the transition period before his government is sworn in. He says work already in progress should continue, but no new binding commitments should be made.
Why is Doerkson making this request now?
The Conservative Party of BC's platform, on page 11, promises to build a 10-lane George Massey Bridge and drop the tunnel project. Construction on the $8.5-billion tunnel began in January 2026 under the NDP. Doerkson says new contracts made now would lock BC into the tunnel option before his government can review the project, calling the situation 'disheartening.'
What did Doerkson say specifically?
Doerkson said: 'We are not asking for all work to stop. Work that is necessary should continue until cabinet is in a position to finalize the project's direction. We should not be spending more money or making new commitments that lock British Columbians into the tunnel option before the incoming government has completed its review.'
Can Doerkson actually stop the work right now?
No. Doerkson acknowledged he cannot direct the NDP government to stop work until his cabinet is sworn in. He said the request is a formal ask to the outgoing government to cooperate during the transition period. The NDP government had not publicly responded to the request as of the time the Nanaimo News Bulletin published this story.
What does the Conservative platform promise about the Massey crossing?
The Conservative Party of BC platform, page 11, promises to build a new 10-lane George Massey Bridge and drop the tunnel project. Page 57 says the bridge will be built within the $8.5 billion already set aside for the crossing. Page 57 also commits to publishing the bridge's budget and schedule before construction begins, and page 57 says Doerkson's government will ask Ottawa to apply its contribution of up to $3 billion toward the bridge rather than the tunnel. Those are the government's own numbers and commitments, and no independent cost estimate has been published.
What is the federal government's position on the crossing?
Ottawa has committed up to $3 billion toward the Massey crossing project, originally directed at the tunnel. The Nanaimo News Bulletin reports Doerkson said he has had 'good conversations' with the federal government about redirecting those funds toward a bridge alternative. No formal federal announcement of a redirect has been made.
How does this connect to the platform promises tracked on voche.me?
The Conservative platform includes three Massey-related promises tracked on this site: build a 10-lane George Massey Bridge, publish the bridge's budget and schedule before construction starts, and ask Ottawa to apply its contribution toward the bridge. This request to halt new tunnel contracts is the first public action taken toward those promises. You can follow progress at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-george-massey-bridge.
When is Doerkson's government sworn in?
The Conservative government is scheduled to be sworn in on November 20, 2026, at which point Doerkson becomes premier and the cabinet takes office. Only then can his government direct the provincial transportation ministry to stop or redirect work on the Massey project.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Nanaimo News Bulletin — Doerkson asks outgoing NDP to stop Massey tunnel worknanaimobulletin.com
- CityNews Vancouver — Doerkson calls for halt to Massey tunnel replacementvancouver.citynews.ca
- Conservative Party of BC platform — George Massey Bridge promiseconservativebc.ca
- voche.me promise tracker — George Massey Bridgevoche.me
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