The Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA) has issued a statement to its members criticizing the provincial government on what it views as the sole-sourcing of public infrastructure contracts.
The statement makes specific reference to the recent announcement from Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler who announced two firms had successful bids and would build a road for the Lake St. Martin outlet channel project.
“The MHCA has consistently, as a matter of principle, and unequivocally opposed sole-sourcing of public infrastructure contracts,” the statement reads. “The MHCA is dismayed to see that, to date, two sole-sourced contracts for the access road to the Lake St. Martin Outlet Channel project have been awarded, totalling $11.2 million. It is expected that about $20 million more in sole-sourced contracts will be awarded in the total project, itself expected to be valued at $350 million.”
In its notice to members, the MHCA points back to April 2017 when the board was briefs on discussion related to the “proposed project-management strategies associated with the Lake St. Martin/Lake Manitoba Outlet Channel and Access Road project.”
A communication went sent to then Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Blaine Pedersen, clearly stating the MHCA board’s unanimously expressed position.
In meetings following this decision, the MHCA states it continued to make these views known.
“It is a bad precedent, a bad decision and not one government should be making,” states the notice.
“We encourage our members to call their local MLAs and Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler to voice their concerns. The MHCA has requested an immediate meeting with Minister Schuler and will keep members updated on developments.”
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