An Alberta-based company has begun roadwork through a 21-km stretch across Highway 4 south heading toward Glaslyn.

Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure spokesperson Steve Shaheen said there are not many local companies who are skilled with seal coat application and is encouraging local contractors to get involved.

“At the present time, there are no Saskatchewan contractors that can do engineering seal work. However priority Saskatchewan has been set up by SaskBuilds to help with the development with Saskatchewan suppliers,” Shaheen told meadowlakeNOW. “Their efforts might encourage a local company to get into this line of work.”

Shaheen explained the Ministry uses the best-value procurement model for construction contracts which considers safety, price, experience among other factors, though at the present time there are no Saskatchewan contracts who do engineering seal work.

The seal coat project underway is being constructed by West-Can, an Alberta-based company with some Saskatchewan roots. While the provincial government recognizes the need to support Saskatchewan-based contractors and employers in the reopening of Saskatchewan, the ministry recently updated its procurement to include a community benefit Saskatchewan section.

“This gives priority to firms based on the percentage of Saskatchewan-based labour intended to be used throughout the project,” he said.

According to SaskBuilds, in June 2014, the provincial government announced the creation of Priority Saskatchewan, a division of SaskBuilds that is responsible for ensuring procurement across ministries and the Crown sector is fair, open, transparent, and based on international best practice.

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