The two five-year contracts are for air and land-based tanker services for forest fire management in the NWT.

Buffalo Airways was awarded the contract for the first time eight years ago.

Peter Arychuk, owner of Air Tindi, said the contracts should have gone out for public tender.

"I hope that the taxpayers of the territories get a good bang for their buck," said Arychuk.

"The question I have is why do we have to bid on a any aircraft charters over $1,000, yet we don't have to bid on a trip worth up to $30 million? I don't understand their mentality."

Arychuk was also concerned with information stated in a GNWT press release, which read, "Buffalo Airways is the only totally Northern-owned air tanker service provider capable of serving the needs of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

"Where are they getting their information," he asked.

"The government hasn't spoken to me throughout this whole process. We're as capable as anybody else. I thought a public tender system was a way to find out if you are competitive or not."

Jim Antoine, minister of resources, said the reason the GNWT did not put the contracts out for public tender was timing.

The land-based contract expired in October and the other is due in March.

"I know there is a lot of concern by a few people that wanted to take a shot at this," he said.

"We had to look at what it would take for somebody new to acquire the necessary equipment and the training."

The GNWT has also stressed they were looking for a service completely rooted in the North.

"We're trying to create a Northern supplier in this area and keep everything in the North," said Antoine.

"Buffalo Airways has followed through with its commitment to move its aircraft maintenance program to the Northwest Territories."

Antoine said, "Buffalo's strong seven-year track record" was also taken into account.

That being said, he added, it is not the GNWT's intention to set Buffalo up as the sole provider of the service.

Would have won anyway

In the third year, of the five-year contract, Antoine said the GNWT will be setting up procedures that will outline guidelines for future contracts.

"I would probably say it would be asking for interested companies, at that time, to put forward a proposal," said Antoine.

"We will develop a public contract process for the provision of future air tanker services to the government."

Joe McBryan, owner of Buffalo Airways, said he believes even if the contract went out for tender he would have won it.

"What winning the contract has said to me is it recognizes that a Northern company is capable of fulfilling all the requirements of the contract," he said.

Buffalo Airways has been in the firefighting business for the past 32 years and McBryan said his company has an unbeatable record.

"I believe that the government today recognizes the ability of this company they gave support to eight years ago," he said.

When the government does come out with a public tender system in three years, McBryan believes Buffalo will come out on top again.

"I don't know how to lose," he said.

"We're Northern, we're efficient, we're economical and I think we've established our niche in the industry."