A local entrepreneur is questioning whether local businesses are getting their piece of the pie in the Okanagan Correctional Centre development.
Jeff Ashe, director of sales for CanadaFit, said he thought businesses capable of supplying the prison’s needs would get “first kick at the can” locally.
“Recently, I was made aware that the fitness equipment was purchased in Halifax, and the purchase orders were issued to non-local business to supply/service the equipment.”
Ashe believes local businesses are not getting a fair shake in what is supposed to bring jobs and business to Oliver.
“Can someone explain to me why this system seems flawed, and why when governments put quotes out they are not tendered locally (in this case through the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce)?”
Ashe, who ran unsuccessfully in Oliver’s municipal election, said CanadaFit is five minutes away from the correctional centre, which would allow local after-sales service when and if needed.
“We have done work in Nanaimo prisons, Victoria prisons and are quite capable of supplying and servicing.”
Bonnie Dancey, the chamber’s chief executive officer, said she has heard from Ashe, but cannot say how PCL (head contractor) handles its projects.
Dancey said the chamber forwards its business database to the government every month, and that is as far as the chamber’s involvement goes.
The chamber previously established a business registry for PCL to choose from during development of the correctional facility.
Chamber president Myers Bennett said he didn’t know what PCL’s procedure was when choosing businesses and services.
“I would think Jeff would know the procedure if he supplied gear to all those other prisons he mentions.”
Bennett said he will bring the issue up at the chamber’s next board meeting and do a follow-up.
Richard Burley, vice-president of project delivery for Plenary Group (the company that won the bid to build the prison), said PCL is procuring local businesses whenever it can.
“They take this really seriously . . . I don’t believe it’s lip service.”
Burley said PCL has given local businesses an opportunity to tender on required services. In fact, it has awarded contracts to H&M Excavating in Penticton and the Osoyoos Indian Band (for the concrete work).
Burley said PCL is a business that must keep everything competitive (in terms of pricing, etc.)
“Some contracts need to go outside the region because of the sheer size and complexity.”
Burley stated that PCL hasn’t procured all of the fitness equipment yet, noting that some of the CanadaFit equipment wasn’t quite right for the project in terms of specific design.
Ken McCabe, project manager for PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc., confirmed they have not awarded all of the fitness equipment to date.
He said CanadaFit was not able to provide some of the specialized equipment they require from Halifax.
“We run a select competitive tender process and welcome the opportunity to have local business provide bids where there is a fit.”
McCabe noted they missed Ashe’s products originally, but they have received pricing from his company on other fitness equipment that PCL is evaluating.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
