Coulson Aircrane has accused the Saskatchewan government of overspending on four firefighting aircraft, claiming the decision will cost taxpayers an extra $100 million. The B.C.-based company, known for retrofitting planes for firefighting, made this assertion in a recent court application. Company president Britt Coulson filed an affidavit expressing concern over the government awarding a $187 million contract without allowing Coulson or other competitors to bid. Coulson is seeking to annul the sale and initiate a fair and transparent competition.
The cabinet approved the purchase of four Q400 planes, modified for firefighting, from Conair Group, a competitor of Coulson, for $187,042,000. This purchase was made to address the criticism the Saskatchewan government faced during the forest fire crisis earlier this year when some planes in its fleet were inoperable. Coulson argues that his company could have provided similar planes to Saskatchewan for around $85.6 million, saving the province over $100 million.
Coulson alleges that the government failed to conduct a proper competitive tendering process, resulting in Conair making significant profits. The company believes that bias played a role in the decision-making process, pointing out the connections between key decision-makers and Conair. The government has refuted these claims, stating that the selection of Conair was based on meeting specific criteria set by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
Coulson highlights discrepancies in the procurement process, questioning the criteria set by the province, which favored Conair. The company argues that its planes offer better performance at a lower cost compared to Conair’s offerings. Despite not meeting certain size requirements, Coulson believes that the government could have accommodated their planes with minor adjustments rather than opting for the more expensive Conair planes.
The government defends its decision to contract with Conair, emphasizing that the selected planes met their requirements. However, Coulson insists that the procurement process was flawed and deviated from standard industry practices. The ongoing legal battle between Coulson Aircrane and the Saskatchewan government is set to continue in court this fall.
