SaskTel signed an agreement with Alberta-based Ledcor Technical Services to handle extra work during busy times, and the NDP says costs for the services have now doubled.
The New Democratic Party (NDP) of Saskatchewan says Ledcor has been charging SaskTel double the Crown’s in-house price for these services.
SaskTel says the N-D-P has its figures wrong about a decision to outsource overflow repairs and service.
A coalition concerned with protecting crown corporations says the cost is 50 per cent higher than if SaskTel had kept the process in-house.
Darcee MacFarlane of SaskTel says neither number is even close to accurate, noting there will be a cost savings of 15 per cent.
“Our Crown corporation can do this job and they have been doing it cheaper,” said Regina Rosemont MLA Trent Wotherspoon.
An NDP caucus release said Ledcor fulfilled a contract for TV and Internet installations in the fall, costing the Crown corporation $165 for a basic install. SaskTel’s in-house cost is set at $82.50 for the same install.
The NDP also says they have obtained documents that show that Ledcor will use out-of-province workers for the job.
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