Payment delays pushed back completion of elders home: MLA
Rankin Inlet facility set to open in April, one year later than originally planned
Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes asked Tuesday what recourse the government of Nunavut has when contractor payment issues cause delays to major government projects, like Rankin Inlet’s elders home. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
The reason behind delays in completing Rankin Inlet’s elders home spilled out in the legislative assembly this week.
Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes laid out what he’s learned during a question-and-answer session Tuesday with David Joanasie, the minister of Community and Government Services.
Hickes said he was looking through documents that support an upcoming bill that described “delayed payment to subcontractors by the main contractor, resulting in slowed down or stopped work” on the project.
Schedule co-ordination between the main contractor and subcontractor also resulted in delays, Hickes said.
Joanasie, who initially didn’t directly answer Hickes’s questions about the delays, acknowledged “some financial issues” that include missed and delayed payments.
“My office did receive some correspondence that was related to late payments,” Joanasie said.
The elder-care centre was originally set to open in 2023 but that date has been pushed to this year. When asked, the GN has not explained the reasons for these delays.
In the legislative assembly Tuesday, Hickes asked for an update on the project and “What recourse does Community and Government Services have in its arsenal to address delays caused by contractors?”
Joanasie replied that in these cases, his department consults with other departments and gathers legal and financial advice.
Hickes did not seem satisfied with Joanasie’s response.
“I was hoping to get a little bit more information on what type of opportunities the department has in dealing with contractor-led delays in some very important pieces of infrastructure that we’re trying to develop in the territory,” he said.
Earlier during Tuesday’s sitting, Health Minister John Main said the target date for the facility to open is in April, with the first elders welcomed in the summer.
There have also been delays in finding a contractor to operate the facility.
Main confirmed Tuesday a contractor has been chosen, and once an agreement had been signed it will be announced publicly.
What company is the contractor?
This would be public information.
Schedule between the general contractor and subcontractors would likely be all responsibility of the general contractor.
Hope it isn’t the contractor involved in the two deaths in Chesterfield Inlet nor the contractor who ran the home in Arviat several years ago, where my father-in-law subsequently died due to neglect (my opinion).
A search of GN records appears indicate the construction which is behind because of unpaid sub as the story line goes is Mikim or otherwise known as Laval Fortain
Five companies associated with Laval Fortin INC have gone in to Receivership, How do i know? They owe me money and i received an email a few days ago.
Sounds like Mr. Happy, Old Saint “Nick”