VICTORIA, B.C. — The B.C. Ministry of Highways has responded to media reports that highway maintenance companies have been ordered to trim costs substantially through employee wages.

A report last week that the ministry has demanded a 10 per cent cut overall, mostly coming from reduced wages, has prompted Transportation Minister Judith Reid to vow there is no predetermined outcome.

“This is a very broad discussion of what these people do and how they do it,” Reid tells local media. “I’m not going to pre-judge at all where that discussion will go or what the outcome will be.”

Reid does, however, admit that the government feels there are efficiencies to be found and it is up to industry to find them.

“We’re having a discussion with this,” admits Reid. “We can talk about different numbers and targets, but at this point it’s only discussions.”