The Yukon Party is grilling the government over the tender for the $40-million Old Crow wellness centre.

During question period Monday, the last day of the legislative sitting, Opposition Leader Currie Dixon pointedly questioned Nils Clarke, the minister of Highways and Public Works, on the project.

“Mr. Speaker, on February 18, the tender for the $40-plus-million Old Crow wellness centre closed.

“Then, just three weeks later, in what seems to be record time for a project of this size, the contract was awarded on March 11.

“I’m sure that it’s just a coincidence that this was just one day before the snap election call,” Dixon added.

“Last week, we asked the Liberals who urged the public servants to make the quick decision on this $40-plus-million contract whether or not there was any political involvement. In response, the minister of Community Services (Richard Mostyn) gave a bombastic denial of any political involvement.

“Could the current minister of Highways and Public Works confirm that there was no political involvement in rushing this $40-plus-million contract out just one day before a snap election call?”

Clarke was quick to jump on the attack over the subject.

“I would reiterate my response from committee of the whole on Thursday afternoon — that I was not in cabinet at the time of the decision-making — but I would also note for the record that all members are deemed to be honourable and any inference to the contrary could be deemed to be out of order.

“Our government is making investments across the territory to build healthy, vibrant communities,” Clarke added.

“We are building a new health and wellness centre and a tenplex housing unit in Old Crow. Design work is underway, and construction will start this winter.

“The design/build contract for the centre and housing unit was awarded to Ketza TSL Construction for $44.8 million. This project was awarded using a value-driven procurement.

“These types of procurements look at a number of elements beyond price to ensure that there is additional value for the community and the territory.”

In this case, Clarke added, “the project team awarded points for the schedule, training plans, subcontracting plans, northern experience, and First Nation participation.

“This project will replace the aging health centre, increasing the number of affordable housing units, and create valuable jobs in the community.”

Dixon then said, “We have an email here from public servants stating that on March 10 — just one day before the contract was awarded on March 11 and just two days before the snap election call — the Liberal cabinet met and signed off on a new implementation plan for the Old Crow wellness centre.

“So, it would appear that just two days before the snap election call, the Liberal cabinet signed off on a quick decision to get a $40-million contract out the door.

“It should be noted that this contract was for the community of Old Crow, a riding that the Liberals knew that they were going to have difficulty getting re-elected in. In fact, they ended up losing that seat.’

As is the habit of the government, Clarke went further on the attack rather than making much of an attempt to provide a clear answer.

“I’m wondering whether the leader of the official Opposition, through his questions today, is indicating that the Yukon Party is not interested in this project — that it somehow is not a valuable piece of future infrastructure for the community of Old Crow and the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.

“Highways and Public Works is responsible for the procurement and management of both of the projects — both the health and wellness centre and the ten-plex,” the minister added.

“A combined procurement was used for the two facilities in order to simplify construction and community resource demands, mobilization and demobilization, and to decrease the costs of both projects by realizing the benefits of economies of scale and shared resources.

“Stantec architecture and engineering has completed the conceptual design and will act as the owner’s advisor for Highways and Public Works during the design and construction of both facilities.

“A land lease has been negotiated with the Vuntut Gwitchin government and was signed this spring.”