Tender issued for government cellphone contract
Colin LaVie criticizes $2M province spends annually for landlines as part of Bell Aliant contract
The provincial government has issued a tender for a new contract for its mobile and smartphone services in the wake of ongoing controversy surrounding its $23 million telephone contract with Bell Aliant.
Finance Minister Allen Roach announced the request for proposals with much fanfare in the legislature Tuesday after facing questions earlier in the day about the untendered 2008 Bell Aliant contract and the amount the province spends on its phone bills.
The province’s current contract with Bell Mobility will expire in August. The new mobile contract will be for two years with the option to extend for two additional years.
“The scope of the request for proposals includes a standing offer for devices, options for packages for voice and data plans along with options for additional communications methods, such as video, audio and text,” Roach said.
But Opposition MLA Steven Myers chastised government for trumpeting this announcement, saying he does not recall previous cell phone tenders being announced in the legislature.
“The reason it has to come here is the backroom crookedness that went on with you fellas and your dealings, your backroom deals with Bell Aliant and your $23 million throwaway money that you gave to Bell,” Myers said.
Government MLAs defended the announcement, citing legislature rules that dictate any major government initiatives must first be announced in the house when it is in session.
Myers disagreed, shouting loudly to be heard over their protestations.
“You’re using your leverage to stand here in the house and say, ‘Look at me, we’re being open and transparent, you’ve never been transparent, for the last 10 years,” Myers shouted.
During question period, Opposition MLA Colin LaVie raised concern over the $2 million the province spends every year for its landline telephone services, which pays for 6,900 landlines.
“Two million dollars a year – that would build a school in Georgetown, that would put an ambulance in Souris,” LaVie said.
“Why are we paying for so many unused landlines?”
The province is locked into its contract for landline services as part of the 2008 contract with Bell Aliant. This contract, worth $23.3 million, was extended twice and does not expire until 2020.
One of the terms of the deal says the province cannot reduce the number of government landlines that were in place when the deal was signed.
Government does say it hopes to reduce its landlines by 40 per cent as part of its new contract for cellphone services.
“Across society, and within the provincial government, we are seeing a move towards a more mobile workforce,” Roach said.
“By pursuing a new contract, we are working to ensure our public servants have the right tools to do their jobs while providing the best value for Island taxpayers.”
The new contract’s services will be made available to other public bodies such as municipalities, the education sector and other agencies if they wish to participate.
At the same time, government’s treasury board secretariat has been working with departments and agencies to determine current and future mobility needs.
It has also met with mobility service and communication providers to gain a better understanding of the services and technologies that are now available.
“Two million dollars a year – that would build a school in Georgetown, that would put an ambulance in Souris. Why are we paying for so many unused landlines?” Opposition MLA Colin LaVie