The federal government will re-evaluate bids for two emergency towing vessels to protect the west coast.
Heiltsuk Horizon Maritime Services, which launched a complaint about the bid process, says it’s pleased with move and hopes it represents a renewed commitment to Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan.
Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett of the Heiltsuk Nation, a majority partner in the company, says they want to ensure the right emergency response vessels are in place to protect vital coastal economies and sensitive ecosystems.
Heiltsuk Horizon’s complaint was that the winning bidder’s vessels, put into service on the B.C. coast last fall, did not meet the mandatory emergency towing power requirements.
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal agreed that the government didn’t fully assess all the requirements before awarding the $67 million contract to Atlantic Towing Ltd and recommended a review.
It’s not clear how long Public Services and Procurement Canada’s re-evaluation will take.
