Some contractors working on the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital say they haven’t been paid for their services in nearly a year, according to a letter sent to the provincial government last week.
The letter from the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce addressed to Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda, dated for May 9, states that small- and medium-sized sub-contractors and sub-trades are “suffering financial hardship due to non-payment of construction contracts for the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.”
“Payment for some of these contractors has been outstanding for nearly a year,” the chamber said.
“Not only has this put an immediate financial burden on these businesses, some have even been forced to close their doors.
“Others have had their ability to bid on future work put in jeopardy due to credit limitations.”
The hospital project has been plagued with issues since it started in 2014 and the status of the construction is both over budget and well beyond its original 2017 completion date.
In July 2018, the province issued a notice of default to the company it deemed responsible for the delayed, costly hospital construction, Graham Construction. When that happened, the many sub-contractors working for Graham were also booted from the property.
Watch below (July 30, 2018): A notice of default has been issued to the contractor responsible for the construction of the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital. Vinesh Pratap explains.
More than two dozen companies said in March they were owed millions for construction work they’d done but weren’t paid for.
The 26 companies said they were owed a combined $60 million in back pay, which is double the $30 million the government set aside. A court date was set for April to determine how the money would be handed out. At the time, arguments were made but no payments were released.
A new construction manager — Clark Builders — was brought on to finish the project in November 2018.
In an emailed statement, UCP Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda said the government is working with the construction manager to see the project finished as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Panda said the construction is expected to ramp up in the coming months.
“It is expected that 90 per cent of the sub-contractors will be returning to complete their scope of work,” he said in an emailed statement.
“The Public Works Act helps ensures sub-contractors will receive payment for authorized work completed on capital projects.
“Graham Construction was paid for all work that was certified up until July. The amount certified for work for August and September was paid into the courts. On March 12, 2019, Infrastructure paid over $30 million into the court to address Public Works Act claims.”
Panda said the government would not comment on the specific case that’s still before the courts.
The Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce represents more than 25,000 employees who are part of more than 1,300 member businesses.
In its letter, it suggests a loan guarantee program “to financially assist the contractors who have completed work” and asks the government “to take an active role in ensuring the survival of good businesses and employment of good people in our community.”