Construction consortium builds friction

The new construction consortium is leading to some confusion in Mistissini’s construction industry. One company alleges that there is practically a monopoly in the distribution of civil contracts from the band office.

Matthew Wapatchee says the consortium, which consists of a group of small construction companies from Mistissini and one partner from Chibougamau, were being awarded all of the civil contracts. Wapatchee said that his company was not even being given the opportunity to bid on the infrastructure contracts coming from the band office.

“They basically closed the door on other small companies that wanted to access some of the contracts,” said Wapatchee.

Though Wapatchee said he had pursued the issue with the band council, he claimed that he had been unable to get an answer that he intended to take the issue to the Cree Naskapi commission.

Don Macleod, who works in economic development for the Mistissini Band Council, said the reason no other companies were getting contracts was because the consortium was a pilot project in Mistissini.

“All of the companies in Mistissini were given the opportunity to join the consortium and work with them. The ones that joined had the sub-contracts, they work together on them,” said Macleod.

According to Macleod, the band council decided to go with the consortium as a means of keeping the employment local, getting the companies to work together and to better coordinate the use of the heavy equipment owned by some of the companies to prevent outsourcing.