Vaughn Palmer: The next time the B.C. government touts a billion-dollar project, I suggest waiting until construction is well underway before getting caught up in the celebrations

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VICTORIA — The B.C. NDP and federal Liberal governments took victory laps last year after putting up a combined $285 million to secure a high-performance battery plant in Maple Ridge.

The project looked to be an impressive one, according to the Nov. 14, 2023 news release.

Taiwanese-owned E-One Moli and its investors were putting up the balance of $765 million for the $1.05-billion expansion of the company’s existing plant in Maple Ridge.

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The commitment would secure 100 existing jobs and add 350 more. Construction to start in the summer of 2024.

When the expanded facility was up and running in 2028, it would be “Western Canada’s first high-performance lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing facility, creating a new hub in the global battery component supply chain.”

For Premier David Eby, the green light from E-One Moli was proof positive that his government had made the province into “a centre for innovation, investment and cutting-edge technology” and “a leader in building a clean-energy future.”

Eby, then heading into an election year, also took a swipe at his critics........

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