Calgary metropolis councilors had a number of questions concerning the procurement course of for the Inexperienced Line LRT mission after issues from some residents concerning the involvement of Montreal-based SNC-Lavalin.
The questions got here as a part of an replace to town’s Government Committee Tuesday from officers with the Inexperienced Line mission.
SNC-Lavalin, as a part of a consortium of 5 different firms referred to as CSIX, was awarded a contract final November to be the supply associate for the LRT megaproject.
The opposite firms within the consortium embrace Aldea Companies Inc., Altus Group, Mott MacDonald and Turner & Townsend.
In response to mission officers, CSIX can be tasked with supporting the builder of the primary part of the LRT line with industrial administration, technical assist, mission controls and development administration.
The Montreal-based agency introduced its involvement with the Inexperienced Line in a press launch final week, after town introduced the corporate’s involvement in November.
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Ward 13 gr. Dan McLean stated his workplace has acquired calls from residents with questions concerning the procurement course of for the mission.
“SNC-Lavalin is a really controversial firm and so that is what they had been involved about, how the choice course of is completed,” McLean informed reporters. “To be clear, I share these issues.”
The corporate has been concerned in some political controversy in Canada lately.
Final 12 months, SNC-Lavalin was ordered to pay Quebec almost $30 million to settle prison bribery fees stemming from bridge work in Montreal.
In August 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was discovered by Canada’s ethics commissioner to have violated the Battle of Curiosity Act following revelations that Trudeau improperly influenced former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to just accept a deferred prosecution settlement in a prison case in opposition to SNC-Lavalin to supply.
Inexperienced Line CEO Darshpreet Bhatti informed council members town’s rules are transparency and equity when selecting companions to bid on Metropolis of Calgary contracts.
Bhatti stated the consortium was vetted by an unbiased overview to find out any conflicts of curiosity or authorized points that might make the businesses ineligible to bid on a metropolis contract.
“We’re taking a look at a complete vary of issues from what’s the metropolis coverage, what are the very best practices and legally and legally, is it assembly the necessities not solely within the province, however Canada usually,” Bhatti informed the committee. stated. “They should undergo the method and if they’re evaluated in a manner the place they rating increased than the others, then from a equity and transparency perspective we have now to award them the contract.”
Calgary’s mayor additionally clarified that metropolis councilors will not be concerned within the choice course of.
“The board didn’t choose them, the board merely gave path to finish this mission,” Jyoti Gondek informed reporters.
McLean stated he was happy with the solutions supplied by Inexperienced Line officers.
“They’ve dedicated to transparency and that is all I am on the lookout for,” McLean stated.
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New highway closures and underground work
There can be one other highway closure within the Beltline space close to Victoria Park as underground utility relocation work continues to make manner for a future LRT tunnel.
In response to Inexperienced Line officers, the following main highway closure would be the intersection of 11 Avenue SE and Olympic Manner, which is anticipated to start in March.
Final 12 months, Olympic Manner and 12 Avenue SE had been closed so crews may set up new deep and shallow utility strains in order that the present strains may be eliminated sooner or later when tunneling begins beneath the downtown core.
The Inexperienced Line tunnel is anticipated to run beneath 2nd Road SW and Bhatti stated preliminary work by third-party distributors is underway throughout downtown to organize for relocated utility strains.
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“As a result of we’re shifting stuff off Road 2, we do not simply should put it on Road 1 and Road 3 SW, however we have now to attach it on all these cross streets; that is why you may see jobs all over the place,” Bhatti informed World Information. “We’re ensuring that after we’re executed, there’s actually nothing for shallow utilities that may stay on our downtown alignment.”
Inexperienced Line officers inspired companies affected by development work to get in contact with their Enterprise Help Program staff to offer suggestions and get updates because the mission progresses.
The utility relocation work is scheduled to be accomplished in 2024.
The $5.5 billion Inexperienced Line mission is split into phases, with the primary part to run from Shepard within the southeast of town, beneath downtown to Eau Claire.
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