Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Apr 21/99) - The end of an era came last week with the awarding of a new contract to provide a patient boarding facility and transportation services to Inuit patients in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to T.C. Enterprises and Lorne and Sally Kusugak in a joint venture proposal.

The new contract was announced by Dr. Keith Best, CEO of the Keewatin Regional Health and Social Services Board. The new contractor replaces Gloria Penner's Eastgate Inuit Enterprises. Penner, known affectionately as the Angel of the North, has provided the services for 30 years.

Four proposals were submitted to the board and Best said Article 24 played a significant role in the choice made by the evaluation committee, comprised of members from the Department of Health and Social Services, Kivalliq Inuit Association, and the Keewatin Regional Health and Social Services Board under criteria from the Nunavut government.

"I would have to list Article 24 as a significant factor," said Best. "However, the manner in which the proposal was written out was clear in terms of what the proposal intended to deliver.

"You're looking at a team of four individuals who looked at the proposals and did their own personal scoring on the criteria. Then, the team collectively looked at the proposals. The one thing that was critical and made a difference right across the board was the Article 24 factor."

Best said the team didn't really discuss the ramifications of its decision, as far as the public's response. He said they were more concerned their actions were diligent and fair throughout the process.

"Any backlash to our decision wasn't really that important an issue. Our focus was diligence and fairness. That's why it took us this long with our decision. We took the time to ensure the team had some education or information around evaluating the proposals.

"The next step was to spend the next full day evaluating. We made sure team members signed a confidentiality agreement and a declaration of conflict of interest. Our intention was to be as diligent and fair as humanly possible and that's what we did."

Best said ultimately, the contract was awarded to the submission representing the best value for the Keewatin Regional Health and Services Board. The new contract will come into effect July 1 and the new contractors will be using the current facility in Winnipeg. Eastgate Inuit Enterprises will continue to provide services until June 30.

"We're going to make sure the services we're paying for are delivered at the quality level we expect. We can't have these services delivered the way they have been in the past without being properly monitored. We expect the best from day one and if we're not getting the best, we'll invoke the section of the contract giving us the power to terminate it.

"The board acknowledges that Gloria (Penner) has done a wonderful job in caring for and providing these services to Inuit people in the region and she must be commended for that. She carried the contract a long time and I hope we will be able to recognize her in some way. I wish her luck in the future."