posting
05-18-2006, 11:00 PM
Unlike the City of Ottawa, Kingston does not have a public report by an auditor general on city operations (see article below). With the controversy over costs for the LVEC, the Multiplex and the Grand Theatre perhaps its is time for a position like this in Kingston.
-- Kingston Electors
CBC.CA News Small firms not competitive under city's bidding system, councillor says
CBC May 18 2006 Taxpayers are paying millions of dollars more than necessary as the city hands out lucrative contracts to a small pool of big firms, an Ottawa councillor says.
Rideau Ward's Glen Brooks said the same four or five companies are winning the majority of city contracts and smaller firms are losing out. In the auditor general's report earlier this month, Alain Lalonde urged the city to place higher importance on price when handing out construction contracts. The city held a special meeting Thursday for the public to comment on the report and for councillors to discuss reaction. It was the city's first independent audit.
FROM MAY 3, 2006: Overtime abuse costing city millions: city auditor (http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/story/ot-cityaudit20060503.html)Representatives of various construction and engineering associations warned councillors about the pitfalls of going with the lowest bidder. "You get what you pay for, which can mean less effort, less senior staff on projects, limited consultant selection, and unfortunately there's always the opportunity for poorer quality," said Ron Jack, who works for the major engineering firm Delcan Corporation Brooks said big firms are just trying to protect their turf by freezing out the competition. He urged his colleagues to place more emphasis on the cost of a project, and less on the size and technical ability of the bidder. "That will save the taxpayers, in my opinion, millions of dollars over the short term. And we're here to provide value for money, taxpayers' money and at the same time get a quality project," he said. Councillors agreed to alter the bidding standards, but not to the level the auditor general had recommended. Brooks has asked the auditor general to report back in a year to see whether the industry has become more competitive, or whether the same four or five firms are still monopolizing it.
-- Kingston Electors
CBC.CA News Small firms not competitive under city's bidding system, councillor says
CBC May 18 2006 Taxpayers are paying millions of dollars more than necessary as the city hands out lucrative contracts to a small pool of big firms, an Ottawa councillor says.
Rideau Ward's Glen Brooks said the same four or five companies are winning the majority of city contracts and smaller firms are losing out. In the auditor general's report earlier this month, Alain Lalonde urged the city to place higher importance on price when handing out construction contracts. The city held a special meeting Thursday for the public to comment on the report and for councillors to discuss reaction. It was the city's first independent audit.
FROM MAY 3, 2006: Overtime abuse costing city millions: city auditor (http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/story/ot-cityaudit20060503.html)Representatives of various construction and engineering associations warned councillors about the pitfalls of going with the lowest bidder. "You get what you pay for, which can mean less effort, less senior staff on projects, limited consultant selection, and unfortunately there's always the opportunity for poorer quality," said Ron Jack, who works for the major engineering firm Delcan Corporation Brooks said big firms are just trying to protect their turf by freezing out the competition. He urged his colleagues to place more emphasis on the cost of a project, and less on the size and technical ability of the bidder. "That will save the taxpayers, in my opinion, millions of dollars over the short term. And we're here to provide value for money, taxpayers' money and at the same time get a quality project," he said. Councillors agreed to alter the bidding standards, but not to the level the auditor general had recommended. Brooks has asked the auditor general to report back in a year to see whether the industry has become more competitive, or whether the same four or five firms are still monopolizing it.