Outside looking in
Nunatsiavut Marine Inc. wants shot at northern ferry service
Nunatsiavut Marine Inc. won’t be considered for northern ferry contract
Nunatsiavut Marine Inc., the aboriginal company that currently provides the Labrador ferry service to northern communities — the majority of them Inuit — may be left high and dry.
Nunatsiavut Marine Inc., is part of the Nunatsiavut Group of Cos. owned by the Inuit Nunatsiavut government.
On Wednesday at a St. John’s Board of Trade luncheon in the capital, Clint Davis, chairman of the Nunatsiavut Group of Cos., spoke on the growing strengths and successes of the group’s various business endeavours.
However, one area where there is current apprehension is with the provincial government contract for the northern ferry service.
“We actually put in a bid which we thought was very competitive,” Davis told reporters after his talk.
But it appears Nunatsiavut Marine Inc. is no longer being considered for the contract.
The contract hasn’t been awarded, so Davis said he re- mains hopeful, but in an emailed response to questions on the request for proposals (RFP), the Department of Transportation and Works stated, “Nunatsiavut Marine was not one of the proponents short-listed as part of the RFP.”
The email goes on to say the goal is to “ultimately provide a service that meets the needs of the residents of the north and south coasts of Labrador for an affordable and sustainable cost.”
The contract currently being reviewed has a duration of 15 years and, as well as having a long-term commitment, is one the department says has extremely high costs.
“If we were completely excluded from the contract it would be very difficult for us. It would be very unfortunate,” Davis said. “It’s an area where there seems to be a natural synergy for our beneficiaries to work there.”
Besides the money, Davis spoke about a natural sense of pride that comes from the Inuit government having the contract for the ferry service that supplies its people.
Sarah Leo, president of Nunatsiavut, also spoke with reporters at the luncheon and kept the same hopeful attitude about the contract as Davis.
“I’m not sure if it’s quite a letdown yet,” she said, pointing out the contract hasn’t been awarded.
“It’s very important,” she added. “We need the ferry service. We need the marine service to provide us with our supplies.”
Davis, looking beyond just the ferry service contract, spoke about the importance for both governments to have a good working relationship for large projects such as mineral and gas exploration to work.
“For some of these projects to move forward, the provincial government has to have positive relationships, so it’s a positive thing for them to actually do business with the economic arms of those governments.”
Wednesday evening, the CBC reported that Woodward Group of Cos. and Oceanex were the two companies still on the shortlist for the contract.
“If we were completely excluded from the contract it would be very difficult for us. It would be very unfortunate.” Clint Davis, chairman Nunatsiavut Group of Cos.