Rankin Inlet (Dec 03/03) - The Department of Community Government and Transportation (CG&T) is not happy with the amount of work done on the new dump site for the community of Rankin Inlet in 2003.

Shawn Maley, assistant deputy minister of community government and transportation, says the Rankin Inlet dump project will be completed in 2004. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Assistant Deputy Minister Shawn Maley says the dump should have been completed this past summer. He says the slow progress has been a major disappointment for CG&T.

"The contract is written to protect the client, in that a certain threshold of work has to be completed based on an agreed upon schedule," says Maley.

"If it's not, there's a number of ways we can ratchet up pressure so that it gets done, such as holding back invoices and putting a site supervisor on the job that the contractor has to answer to."

Maley says consideration is being given to the fact the project is being done by a local contractor (Ferguson Lake Lodge) using almost 100 per cent local labour.

But, he adds, the construction of the dump is a regulatory issue that has to be balanced.

"We're not out to crucify anybody here. We're not calling a bond on the contractor or anything like that. We're simply trying to assist the contractor so that the project can be completed."

CG&T has decided a site supervisor will be in place next year.

Maley says the work scheduled for 2003 was obtainable and simply didn't get done.

"I'm sure the contractor has a number of reasons as to why the work wasn't completed, but the bottom line for us is that our expectations were not met."

CG&T wants the new dump ready for use by the end of next summer.

Maley says the government will not incur any extra costs if the $1.1-million project goes over budget.

"Any cost overrun on the project will be the responsibility of the contractor."

Shutting down the old dump will be the next phase, after the new facility is completed.

Maley says a study will be undertaken to phase out the old dump's closure.

"We may want to leave a portion of it open for certain periods of time while it's being closed. We also have to do an analysis on what exactly is in there. That dump was in service when the mine was here."