LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has put out another call for applications from businesses to run Fort Simpson's recycling depot which is now closed once more.

Until recently, Rowe's Recycling operated the recycling depot in Fort Simpson. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

The last call for applications ended May 30 with two businesses applying. According to Judy McLinton, public affairs and communications manager for the department, Rowe's Recycling was awarded the licence.

Following the awarding of the contract, the department received an appeal of the decision.

McLinton said when the department receives an appeal, a third-party advisor is brought in to provide recommendations on the appeal.

"Based on the recommendation of the adviser, (Minister Robert C. McLeod) decided to re-run the competitive process for the depot licence as soon as practicable," she stated in an e-mail.

The deadline for applications is Dec. 16 at noon, with a decision to be made by Dec. 21.

Reg Bellefontaine, who owns Triple "J" Marine Services, confirmed he was the unsuccessful applicant for the initial call.

He is also the one who submitted the appeal.

In an e-mailed statement to the Deh Cho Drum, Bellefontaine said he appealed the decision because Rowe's Recycling "failed to provide proof they were a registered partnership."

Bellefontaine provided the Deh Cho Drum with a letter he received, dated Oct. 18, from Minister Robert C. McLeod, containing McLeod's decision on the appeal.

In that letter, McLeod states the third-party adviser noted an "irregularity" in the competitive process.

"It was noted that at the time the applications were accepted, the successful bidder applied as a partnership, but was not registered as such until the (licence) was granted," McLeod stated.

Under the Northwest Territory's Partnership Act, a partnership is a business relationship between two or more people, organizations or businesses working together for profit. At the time of Rowe's Recycling's application, the business was not registered as such.

Recommendations from the adviser suggested the competitive process be redone and that Rowe's Recycling continue recycling services until the process is complete once more. However, notices posted around the village state the recycling depot is closed until further notice.

Although he won his appeal, Bellefontaine stated he doesn't intend to resubmit his application for the contract.

"The decision to redo the licence application . is still unfair, in my opinion, due to the fact that Triple "J" Marine Services Ltd. met all the requirements of the ENR licence process," he stated.

"I believe that I already won the right to be the licence holder in Fort Simpson."

Bellefontaine said he has been consulting with a lawyer and will be proceeding with legal action in the future, although did not specify what action he might take.

Rowe's Recycling could not comment by press time.

This isn't the first time the company has closed its doors.

Rowe's Recycling closed in April after it was determined the company had no legal right to be open on the land it was on.

It eventually reopened in a new location, the P.R. Contracting building, in May.

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