Media Releases
Jan 28, 2008
Local Businesses; First Nations Benefit From Transmission Line Project
Yukon Energy’s Carmacks to Stewart Transmission Line Project is resulting in substantial economic benefits for the territory. Since the groundwork began in early December 2007, several dozen Yukoners have been hired to work on various aspects of the project, and more will be employed once the line construction begins in the spring. Here are some examples:
Challenger Geomatics, which was awarded the centerline surveying contract, hired more than 20 Yukoners to do line cutting, flag clearing limits, catering and other services. Many of those hired are from the Selkirk and Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nations. Companies such as Selkirk Groceries in Pelly Crossing received spin-off benefits through providing accommodations, fuel for vehicles, and miscellaneous dry goods.
“Challenger is proud that this contract was completed by an all Northern team,” Challenger’s Manager of Northern Operations Joe Iles said. “Supplemented with the local knowledge and hard work of those hired in the communities, we worked as a team to persevere the harsh winter working conditions to accomplish the tasks set out by our client.”
The clearing contract went to Pelly Construction of Whitehorse and was then subcontracted to three companies – two of which are Yukon firms: Ewing Transport of Mayo and H.R. Vance Construction of Whitehorse. Pelly Construction estimates about two dozen Yukoners, including heavy equipment operators and ground crews have been hired to work on the project.
“We estimate that $2.5 million of our contract will be spent in the Yukon,” Pelly Construction Contract Manager Jennifer Dehart said. “This covers wages, food, fuel, equipment and other services.”
Those other services include accommodation. The Carmacks Hotel, for instance, has been fully booked ever since work began on the transmission line in early December. Several staff members who would normally be laid off over the winter have this year been kept on the payroll.
While line construction is still a few months away, some Yukon companies are already benefiting from that part of the project. A case in point is Mobile Maintenance of Whitehorse, which was awarded a $1 million contract to produce all the steel cross arms and cross bracings for the transmission poles.
Valard Construction, the lead contractor on the line construction, has formed a joint venture with Arctic Power and the Northern Tutchone First Nations to complete the project. Valard anticipates there will be between 40 and 50 employees on the job. Up to forty percent of those are expected to be Yukoners.
“Our objective is to maximize the local business and employment opportunities,” Valard’s Executive Vice President Roland Bailey said. “The fact that we were able to find a Yukon company to produce the steel cross arms, for example, is fantastic.”
Valard plans to set up a camp for its workers in the Minto Landing area. It is working with the Northern Tutchone First Nations to help them establish a catering business, so they can provide the food at the camp.
The first phase of the transmission line, from Carmacks to Pelly Crossing with a spur line to the Minto mine, should be in service by late this year.
Attachment: Local hire summary
Contact:
Janet Patterson
Supervisor, Communications
Yukon Energy Corporation
(867) 393-5333
janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca
Summary of Community Hiring
Carmacks/Pelly Crossing
Carmacks-Pelly Crossing/Spur Transmission Line – Phase I
Centreline survey work: Challenger Geomatics
Four line cutters were hired in Pelly Crossing (65 Person/Days + chainsaw rental for each of these days).
Accommodations were acquired from Selkirk Groceries for four persons (20 days) for work completed from Pelly Crossing.
Fuel for vehicles and miscellaneous dry goods were purchased from Selkirk Groceries during the period of time that we worked from Pelly Crossing.
Meals for four persons, for 20 days, were catered by a Selkirk First Nation business in Pelly Crossing. Bag lunches were also provided to locally hired staff for this period. The contract employed two persons.
Four line cutters were hired in Carmacks (109 Person/Days + chainsaw rental for each of these days)
One survey Crew Chief was hired from Carmacks (38 Days) and has been added to our permanent staff.
Six persons were hired from Carmacks to assist with flagging clearing limits (48 Person/Days)
Accommodations and meals were acquired locally for 6-8 persons over the period of our operations from Carmacks. Fuel for vehicles and miscellaneous dry goods were also purchased in Carmacks.
Four Yukon First Nation technical staff were hired as casual employees for the project (91 Person/Days). Each had worked for Challenger on prior assignments, through the Land Claim Survey process.
Clearing work: Pelly Construction
Clearing subcontracted to three companies, two of which were from the Yukon: Ewing Transport of Mayo and HR Vance Construction of Whitehorse.
Pelly Construction estimates about two dozen Yukoners, including heavy equipment operators and ground crews have been hired to work on the project.
Pelly Construction estimates that $2.5 million of the clearing contract will be spent in the Yukon. This covers wages, food, accommodation, fuel, equipment and other services.
The Carmacks Hotel has been fully booked since work began on the transmission line in early December. Approximately four staff members who would normally be laid off over the winter have been kept on the payroll this year because of the transmission line project.
Line construction: Valard Construction
Valard formed a joint venture with Arctic Power and the Northern Tutchone First Nations to build the line.
Valard anticipates there will be between 40 and 50 employees on the job. Up to forty percent of those are expected to be Yukoners.
Valard awarded Mobile Maintenance of Whitehorse a $1 million contract to produce the steel cross arms and cross bracings for the transmission poles.
Valard will set up a camp for its workers in the Minto Landing area and is working with the Northern Tutchone First Nations to help them establish a catering business, so they can provide the food at the camp.
Valard is sending one person from each of the three Northern Tutchone First Nations to Alberta to gain experience working with some of Valard’s line crew employees.
