OPP probing bridge project
Ontario Provincial Police has opened an investigation into the Burgoyne Bridge replacement project.
In a letter to Niagara Falls regional councillor and chair of the Niagara Regional Police services board Bob Gale, OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes said his officers will look into the issues highlighted in the recent Deloitte Canada forensic audit of the project.
Specifically, Hawkes said the OPP will assist with the investigation into the “procurement process and contract awarding issues for the Burgoyne Bridge project.”
“The OPP will be assisting in this matter and will be reviewing all documentation as part of its investigation,” Hawkes’ March 13 letter said.
The police services board released Hawkes’ letter to the news media Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier this month, Niagara Regional Police Chief Jeff McGuire reached out to Hawkes, asking the OPP to take over the investigation.
The forensic audit was originally given to the NRP for further investigation. The NRP had the report for less than a day when the police board requested McGuire hand the probe off to the OPP or RCMP.
At the time, Gale said the investigation had to be taken out of NRPs hands in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
McGuire, who said he had full confidence his officers could conduct a fair investigation, acceded to the board’s request.
Deloitte was tasked by regional council to investigate several contracting and conflict of interest issues, not all of which were related to the bridge project. The $500,000 report, which was kept secret by regional council but obtained by The Standard earlier this month, did not make any claims of criminal wrongdoing.
However, the report said the investigation into three issues — how contracts were awarded to Parsons, the company that designed the bridge, as well as regional contracts unrelated to the bridge issued to Circle P. Paving and Regional Trenching — could not proceed further without the assistance of law enforcement.
The report also said the Region needs to review its procurement, conflict of interest and hiring policies.
Former regional managers named in the audit, including former transportation director Joe Cousins, labelled elements of the report a “witch hunt” by councillors looking for someone to blame for the bridge project’s significant cost increases.
The bridge was originally estimated to cost about $50 million, but is now estimated to cost more than $90 million. The forensic audit does not address how those costs increased.
In his letter, Hawkes asked the police board not to disclose any information regarding the bridge project.
“I am requesting that any information related to this matter not be released and that any requests for information be directed to the OPP,” the letter said.
In his reply to Hawkes, dated Tuesday, Gale thanked Hawkes for providing assistance and said that he will notify regional council, Niagara municipalities and the local media of the OPP investigation “as part of the board’s mandate to ensure public accountability, transparency and openness.”