B.C. New Democratic Party leader Carole James took the Liberals to task today over recent news that 200 workers at Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse will be temporarily put out of work to accommodate the 2010 Games.

The business will be forced to close its doors from Feburary 1 to March 2, 2010, because its proximity to Pacific Coliseum – a key Olympics venue – was deemed a security risk by VANOC.

The company that runs the track had hoped to benefit from the scores of spectators coming to watch speed skating and figure skating events at the Coliseum, according to a leaked internal memo from racetrack general manager Raj Mutti.

But a recent meeting with VANOC confirmed the “inevitable and unfortunate reality” of the closure, reads the letter.

“My question is to the minister responsible,” James said in question period at the legislature, according to a draft version of Hansard. “Will he please explain to these workers why hosting the Olympics is putting them out of work for a month?”

Finance Minister Colin Hansen replied that the 2010 Games are a huge economic stimulus that will create thousands of jobs. But he suggested some Games-time disruptions are inevitable.

“Nobody is saying that British Columbia is going to be business as usual during the 17 days of the Olympics,” Hansen said.

COPE local 378, the union that represents the affected employees, is currently in discussions with the racecourse to get VANOC’s decision repealed, spokesperson Mike Bruce told The Tyee.

“There’s frustration all around,” Bruce said. “A month without pay off of work can be pretty devastating.”

NDP environment critic Shane Simpson told the Tyee that the issue exemplifies the larger concern of Games-related layoffs. He questioned whether employees at the Edgewater Casino and the Pacific National Exhibition could lose their jobs because both locations are close to competition venues.

“What does the government know about this?” he asked. “What are they going to do to try to ease this situation?”

Geoff Dembicki is a staff reporter for The Hook.