"We are pleased to award this substantial construction contract to a local firm," explained Len Edwards, executive director of the Halifax Summit Office (HSO). " This is one of the many opportunities hosting a Summit will afford Nova Scotians. The Halifax Summit Office expects to spend 60% of its budget locally."
J.W. Lindsay Enterprises will be responsible for the upgrading and refitting of all Summit sites. These include: Summit Place, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the World Trade and Convention Centre and the Metro Centre, as well as a few other remote sites yet to be announced.
"All Summit sites are currently used for purposes other than a G-7 meeting," says Malcolm McKechnie, spokesperson for the HSO. "Starting immediately, construction will begin to transform Summit sites into meeting and working areas for the leaders, delegations and media coming to Halifax this June."
The 2.1 million dollar contract was awarded through a public process. Calls for an expression of interest were published in March. Based on those applications four contractors were invited to submit bids. The submissions were reviewed and the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder. The funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1995 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
The Summit is a gathering of leaders from the seven largest industrialised nations as well as representatives of the European Union and the Russian Federation. The event will take place in Halifax from June 15-17, 1995.
For more information contact:
Malcolm McKechnie Halifax Summit Office Spokesperson (902) 473-7117 Marie-France LeBlanc Communications (902) 473-7084