One of two ships Hike Metal Products Ltd. in Wheatley is building for Hornblower Niagara Cruises. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)One of two ships Hike Metal Products Ltd. in Wheatley is building for Hornblower Niagara Cruises. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Windsor

Petition Calls On Ministry To Reconsider Ferry Bid

A Leamington man says the more he read about it, the more it just didn't sit right with him. So, Rick Chisholm started a petition calling for the Ministry of Transportation to reconsider its contract to replace the Pelee Islander.Chilean company Asenav won the $40-million contract after Hike Metal Products of Wheatley's joint bid with a Quebec company was disqualified from the bidding process. Hike Metal CEO Andy Stanton says he's still waiting to hear why his company's bid wasn't considered.

Leamington Stand Strong was considering a similar petition until it found out Chisholm had already launched one. He says the group decided to support his efforts instead of launching its petition. When the emails started coming in, Chisholm realized he'd struck a chord. "Well, just another example of government running headlong into something without really consulting the people whose money they're spending, I guess."

The petition on Change.org has already received more than 1,300 signatures.

Chisholm plans to present the petition to officials in the Ministry of Transportation with the hope they'll award the contract to a Canadian company instead.

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