Yukon NDP criticizes sole-source contract for high school

Opposition politicians say the Yukon Government is breaking rules by handing an Alberta company a $900,000 contract without giving local companies a chance to bid.

The contract is to supervise the construction of a replacement for Whitehorse’s F.H. Collins High School.  

Before the last election the Yukon Party Government held a sod-turning ceremony and announced the aging school would be replaced by 2013. 

NDP MLA Jan Stick says millions of dollars have been spent since and now the government is breaking promises and its own rules by handing contract supervision work to an Alberta company.

"When you look at their procurement and contracting regulations nowhere does it say you can go to $900,000 for a sole source contract," she said.

Cynthia Tucker, assistant deputy minister of public works, said the deputy minister can spend that kind of money if he wants to.

"There is an option to sole source in terms of this amount of money where you have the deputy minister’s approval to do so," she said.

Tucker said the government believes in the long run it will save Yukon taxpayers money.

"We feel obviously having issued it, it is a good investment and it will save us time and money and it will give us the best possible outcome."

Tucker said the Alberta company has already built two schools of the same design. She said it won't be able to bid on the actual construction of this school and will be restricted to supervising the work.