PEHDZEH KI/WRIGLEY
Wrigley is facing job losses after being passed over for a highway maintenance contract.

Ministers and the premier travelled to Fort Simpson on Oct. 7 for an open house. Here, Sylvia Pascua-Matte, left, Katrina Deneron and Val Gendron have a discussion with Premier Bob McLeod. Transportation Minister Wally Schumann joined McLeod and other government representatives for the open house. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

Pehdzeh Ki Contractors Ltd. bid on a contract offered by the GNWT for maintenance of Highway 1 from kilometre 551.7 to 690.

The deadline for that contract closed Sept. 15 with one other bid from Nogha Enterprises in Fort Simpson.

Nogha Enterprises' bid, at a little more than $3 million, came in lower than Pehdzeh Ki Contractors Ltd.'s bid, which was approaching $3.6 million.

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation Chief David Moses was travelling on Oct. 11 and was unavailable for comment.

However, Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson said the issue came up during an Oct. 7 public meeting held in Wrigley with himself, minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Caroline Cochrane, Health Minister Glen Abernethy and Education Minister Alfred Moses.

Thompson said the loss of the highway maintenance contract put five to seven people out of work.

"(That impacts) potentially up to 10 to 12 families with that loss of employment," he said.

"The community is in dire straits."

Thompson said the band found out it had lost the highway maintenance contract shortly after receiving a promise from public servants that Transportation Minister Wally Schumann would meet with them to discuss the contract.

"Unfortunately, they ended up with the contract being awarded without even being discussed," he said.

"That was very disappointing, that a commitment was made and then it wasn't fulfilled."

Compounding the impact to Wrigley is the fact the band used to hold the contract and purchased brand new equipment in order to initially receive that contract.

In an e-mail, Schumann said the chief of Wrigley had asked for a meeting to discuss the tender, but the minister was "unable to meet due to other work commitments, and communicated this in a letter to the community."

He added that while the contract went to a Fort Simpson company, Nogha Enterprises had indicated it may be willing to hire equipment and community members from Wrigley.

"The contract to maintain a section of Highway 1 was awarded to Nogha Enterprises, an aboriginal company from the Deh Cho region through a fair, open, and transparent process," Schumann wrote.

"There was a commitment previously where they were told by the Department (of Transportation) that to get their negotiated contract the first time, they had to upgrade their equipment," Thompson said.

"Basically, they said there would be the potential of extending (the contract) at least two to five years until the equipment was paid off. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. So now not only did they lose their jobs, they're also footing the bill."

Thompson said the situation gives credence to his position that ministers do not understand the issues and challenges facing smaller communities in the Northwest Territories.

He added he plans to bring up Wrigley's concerns in the legislative assembly, which resumes sitting on Oct. 13.

Schumann stated in his e-mail competitive contracting is an "effective, and preferred, method of ensuring the government is getting value for money in its procurement."

"The Department of Transportation has been working with Pehdzeh Ki First Nation in Wrigley since 2005 to help build capacity through a range of negotiated contracts," he stated.

"The results of a recent tender demonstrates that there is sufficient capacity to achieve local business and employment opportunities though a competitive process."

Thompson's visit to Wrigley was part of a Nahendeh-wide tour, which included meetings in Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake and Jean Marie River.

He said he hopes to schedule another tour for some time in January, where he will be accompanied by different ministers.

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