Unama’ki construction companies praised for work on cooling pond project

Cape Breton Post
Tues., Apr. 29, 2008

Vancouver - Representatives of three Unama’ki construction companies from Cape Breton are in Vancouver this week to participate in the National Federal Contaminated Sites Workshop.

One of the Cape Breton representatives is Mona Morris of Morris Construction, one of the aboriginal construction companies working on the $400-million Sydney tar ponds cleanup project.

Morris is profiled in promotional material for the Cape Breton aboriginal construction companies.

The Unama’ki construction companies are bursting with pride over the success they have had in undertaking a multimillion-dollar environmental remediation project at the Sydney tar ponds cleanup site and they have their sights set on millions of dollars in future contracts. "This experience has also allowed these Cape Breton aboriginal construction companies to build capacity and expertise and has positioned them to play a significant role in future contracts and other major construction projects in Nova Scotia," said Dan Christmas, chair of the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee and senior adviser to chief and council in Membertou First Nation. "The cooling pond project is a clear success. Without question, this is largely attributable to the aboriginal contractors working on the project," said Frank Potter, president, Sydney Tar Ponds Agency.

The three aboriginal construction companies that won the tender to work on the cooling pond are Norman Morris Joint Venture of Eskasoni, MB2 Excavating and Construction of Membertou, and Membertou — HAZCO Remediation Group.

Representatives of the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency are also attending the National Federal Contaminated Sites Workshop.