Airport Dispute

Users of the James Richardson International Airport help pay for the construction of the new $267,000,000 air terminal building. Every departure costs each flyer $20: the Airport Improvement Fee.

But due to an alleged construction error the cost of the terminal could be going up by millions of dollars.

In court documents obtained exclusively by Global News, The Winnipeg Airports Authority accuses its primary construction company, EllisDon Corporation, of failing to properly stabilize the terminal’s piled foundation during excavation.

While EllisDon didn’t accept responsibility for the problems that led to the repairs, the construction firm fixed them, and then filled a claim against the WAA.

The claim is quote "…seeking recovery from the appellant (Airport Authority) of all costs, including interest and legal fees, that it has incurred or will incur to remedy the slope stability issues, including those costs incurred by its sub-trades…."

The matter went to an arbitrator who sided with EllisDon, leaving the WAA on the hook for the expensive repairs. The WAA is now trying to appeal the ruling to the Court of Queens Bench, because the arbitrator’s judgment could be worth, according to one Global source, millions and millions of dollars.

Neither side would go on camera to talk about the case but an airport official released this email statement to Global News: “….nothing unusual is taking place. Both EllisDon and Winnipeg Airports Authority continue to work towards providing the quality product our community expects on the schedules as agreed."