Quebec authority calls out Tulattavik Health Centre for giving private contract
Contract was for 4 additional security guards at Kuujjuaq’s hospital
Quebec’s public market authority says Ungava Tulattavik Health Centre breached provincial laws when it awarded a private contract instead of publishing a call for tenders for security at Kuujjuaq’s hospital earlier this year. (Photo by Cedric Gallant)
Quebec’s public market authority found the Ungava Tulattavik Health Centre went against public market laws when handing out a private contract for security personnel, according to a news release the authority published this week.
The public market authority is a neutral and independent organization that watches over the public market and ensures public bodies respect laws governing the handing out and accepting of public contracts.
According to the release, the health centre handed out a private contract worth more than $326,000 for additional security personnel without first publishing a notice of intention.
This goes against Quebec’s act respecting contracting by public bodies.
“A notice of intention aims precisely to allow any company to express its interest in executing the contract, which contributes in particular to the transparency that public bodies must demonstrate,” the release, published in French, said.
The health centre did not provide evidence that awarding a private contract, versus putting out a public call for tenders, served the public interest, the release said.
The authority can make recommendations, or order public bodies to suspend or terminate contracts.
The authority gave four recommendations to the Tulattavik health centre, including a full revision of the centre’s purchasing and contract award policy.
It asked for the recommendations to be answered by a clear action plan, and gave 45 days for the health centre to do so.
The contract in question was for four additional security guards at Kuujjuaq’s hospital, said Nathalie Poirier, Tulattivik’s senior communication adviser, in a French email response.
She said it was a six-month contract.
“We have ended services from the concerned company effective July 30,” Poirier said.
“Proactively, we have launched a call for tenders for security services, published on July 16.”
Regarding the recommendations, Poirier said the health centre is creating an action plan that should be completed in the coming weeks.
“It aims to improve our internal processes and reinforce our rule conformity,” she said.
This is not the first time the authority has warned the Tulattavik health centre over contract malpractice. It flagged a similar case in November 2022, and gave similar recommendations.
No matter the process. Just make sure this batch of imports don’t bring hard drugs for sale with them like others who were hired as security at the hospital.
It seems like drug dealers are now applying for jobs in North!?!? They seem to find a new way of making their own $$ from their supplies instead of hiring inuit as Sellers?
All contracts for public services paid by the taxpayer should be tendered, end of discussion.
And they wasted all kinds of drugs/pills/syringes, all that can be made for hard drugs! This is a big violation of code of conduct and can destroy the animals/people,and they were not expired too they literally threw equipments at Tulattavik Health centre! It’s a big waste of $$$$ and supplies!
this is a start of eliminating corruption in all businesses, corporations, contractors and personal under the table making dealings for cash instead of paying into the federal and quebec revenue. Hundreds and tens of thousands of dollars being made but no taxes being paid. Nunavik is good for this.
hmm.. FlabberGasted ,,,, where are you ? dont miss out on this.