Local vendors should get hospital work: MPP

Gates welcomes efforts to include local contractors in project to help spur region’s economy

Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates says local construction contractors and suppliers should not have to settle for dribs and drabs when the province is spending more than $1 billion on a new hospital in the region.

“We need the work, let’s be honest here,” Gates said. “We have an area that has been hit probably as hard as anywhere in the province from the pandemic, particularly in the tourism sector, and we need the work here. We need it to be done by local workers.”

He said it’s unlikely any of the three pre-qualified companies in the running for the contract to build the new south Niagara hospital are local, but local companies should still be the first choice for subcontracting and any additional work or supplies required as part of the project.

Gates has been adamant that local skilled trades and suppliers benefit from the hospital construction, raising that point many times in Queen’s Park since plans for the hospital were announced.

“If they bring all workers in from Toronto, and some places have done that, the benefit locally isn’t going to be as good as it should be,” he said.

“It’s great that we’re getting the new hospital … But if you’re going to build a hospital and bring in workers from outside the area, I think it’s wrong. We know the government is going to award it (the contract) to a big Toronto-based company for sure, but I think we have to put as much pressure as we can on making sure as much work that can be done is done locally.”

Gates welcomed the efforts of Niagara Economic Development and Niagara Health to help ensure local companies get work after construction begins, likely by the fall, by setting up a database of companies that could contribute to the project.

“My issue has always been that if you’re going to spend $1.2 (billion) to $1.5 billion … I want to make sure we’re doing everything we can, working with all our partners and different organizations, to say that work should be being done here.” Regardless of the company awarded the contract for the hospital build, Gates said “work should be done by local workers, tradespeople, labourers, and our businesses here for supplies and all the stuff that goes with it.”

“As much of that billion dollars as can be should be spent locally to help the overall economy of the Niagara region.”