Carillion Canada easing nerves in Halton

Despite it’s parent company declaring bankruptcy in the U.K., Carillion Canada is trying to ease fears saying operations will continue for its 6 000 workers.

Carillion Canada plays a big role in Halton. Things like snow clearing, hospital cafeteria work, cleaning, maintenance contracts, many of those are operated by Carillion Canada. The firm is also in charge of 40 000 kilometres of highway in Alberta and Ontario including Provincial highways in Halton.

The Ministry of Transportation says they met with representatives from Carillion Canada and they were advised that the winter maintenance will continue and that includes the plowing and salting of provincial highways in Halton and Peel.

They’ve been in hot water for their snow clearing efforts in the past, fined $900 000 for not clearing the QEW in Burlington during two snow storm back in 2014. Last year Carillion’s services cost the taxpayers nearly $129 million.

The company also helped build the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial hospital and currently holds a contract for facility management. According to its website, that’s $9.6 million dollars a year until 2045.

No one from Infrastructure Ontario would appear on camera but says they are “closely monitoring the situation.” Some politicians, like NDP leader Andrea Horwath have been critical of the Liberal’s decision to outsource and privatize road and medical services to begin with.

“I think this particular situation is showing us that its time for us to have a hard look at these private contracts and bring some of that work in house again.”

Carillion Canada declined an on-camera interview but told us that their employees, subcontractors and suppliers in Canada will continue to be paid and services will be provided for their clients. Their road maintenance contract with the province comes to an end in July of next year. In the meantime, they are expected to plow all of the highways in Halton in the event of another snowfall.