Gov’t says fumbled flood-fight tender will be awarded

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/06/2015 (3787 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The province still plans to supply flood-fighting equipment to flood-prone First Nations under a tender that’s been in limbo since February.

The tender has been at the centre of a controversy within the NDP government for almost a year, starting last July when the province promised flood-plagued First Nations $5 million towards a permanent emergency operations centre to deal with flooding in their communities.

The deal has been held up as one reason why five top ministers resigned their posts last November in protest of Premier Greg Selinger’s leadership, touching off a three-month long leadership race won by Selinger.

Government officials said Monday the province intends to follow through on awarding the contract — if the First Nations still want the equipment to get the flood operations centre off the ground.

“We remain in discussions with the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council (IRTC) on what their flood protection needs are, and we remain committed to our investment into flood protection in the Interlake,” cabinet spokeswoman Rachel Morgan said. “We hope those discussions give us direction about whether IRTC continues to need more flood tubes or some other type of emergency flood-fighting equipment.”

The province’s tender consumed part of Monday’s question period in the legislature with the Opposition peppering Selinger and other ministers on their handling of the file.

“In Manitoba we followed a proper tendering process as required,” Selinger said in the house.

Opposition Leader Brian Pallister said the government had disrespected the tendering process and failed to answer questions on the subject.

“What issue caused the NDP rebels to become rebels?” Pallister asked Selinger. The premier responded that Pallister and the Progressive Conservatives have an agenda to privatize daycares and social services if they form the next government.

Documents obtained by the Free Press, and multiple sources, say three of the five ministers were upset Selinger and Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton had allegedly tried to get the $5-million package approved without going to tender and finding the lowest price.

Selinger has said a decision to issue a tender for bids on the package was made at an Oct. 9 meeting.

Ashton has also been criticized because his friend, restauranteur Peter Ginakes, has the exclusive right to sell Tiger Dams in Manitoba.

Selinger and Ashton have both said they did nothing wrong and want the province’s ombudsman to review their handling of the matter.

In correspondence obtained by the Free Press, the IRTC made no secret it promoted buying Tiger Dams made by U.S./International Flood Control Corp., and did not want the package going to tender.

“We have the other products but the Tiger Dams are the ones our staff prefers to work with and have had the most success with,” former IRTC chairman and former Peguis First Nation chief Glenn Hudson said in a Dec. 2 letter to Selinger.

In March, the IRTC issued its own tender for water-filled tubing, which replaces sandbags to protect homes in floods. It awarded a contract worth $5 million to U.S./International Flood Control Corp. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and Public Safety Canada, shared the cost.

The federal government is reviewing the award of that contract.

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca