Wildrose: Party would establish disaster-procurement protocols

Wildrose announced its policy on procurement protocols in disaster situations, while also asking the Auditor General to further investigate whether the Prentice PCs awarded a $20M contract to school modular builders that included over $11M in profits.

According to documents given by a whistleblower to Wildrose, Enzo Developments told potential investors that it would make over $11 million in profit off a $20 million contract for modular classrooms for Calgary and High River.

“The same old Prentice PCs were awarding irresponsible contracts during the flood recovery and two years later we still have 700 people from High River waiting disaster recovery assistance,” Wildrose leader Brian Jean said. “This type of mismanagement on procurement contracts has a direct impact on people’s lives. It means more money for wasteful PC spending and less for serving Albertans.”

Other FOIP documents show not only did the PCs award massive profits to contractors during the 2013 floods, but Enzo was in fact the lowest bidder as part of the PC procurement process.

“A broken procurement process is just one of hundreds of reasons our province is in the fiscal crisis it is in after 44 years of the same old, tired, and entitled PC party,” Jean said. “With more Wildrose MLAs in the Legislature, we can put an end to this careless overspending and prioritize helping flood victims in places like High River and Medicine Hat.”

Jean announced in High River, resolving the over 700 DRP files that are still open in High River would be a top priority for a Wildrose government. Wildrose also announced that it would establish Disaster Procurement Protocols based upon 1) a simplified standing offer process, 2) a commitment to buy local, and 3) the inclusion of audit provisions to prevent profiteering.