And in other Wasaya-related news....

[Mark_space]

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/News/375982/ ... _of_Wasaya

[fish4life]

Hydro one should just cut off the power and say fine we don't need to haul fuel in anymore.

[Taiser]

If Cargo North went through all the trouble of providing a tender, that tender was accepted and contract signed, only to be "BCR'd" by the bands in favor of Wasaya, then I hope Cargo sues like crazy! WTF? I didn't know reserves were above contractual law!!! You can bet that any other company bidding for a contract with the reserves now will have an eyebrow up for this kind of crap! What a scam! Who the hell is gonna pay for the extra cost Wasaya will be charging? Hydro or the band? Three guesses...

[Redneck_pilot86]

Although Meekis said Sandy Lake respects Canadian and Ontarian law, the First Nation's traditional governance practice of granting companies permission to conduct business in the territory precedes the Treaty 9 agreement.

How traditional is contract flying to provide fuel for electricity generators? Give me a break. This is 100% the bands thinking of the returns they get when Wasaya does the work. Despite the fact that another company can do it cheaper, that won't by the chief a new Ford. As always, the residents lose over chief and council greed.

[HiLo]

Maybe Hydro One privatization is a good thing....

[2R]

Why is the company called Hydro ,if they are using diesel generators ?
Should they not be called dirty diesel dynamos ?
I do hope they are using green gluten free organic diesel with pixie dust ,instead of that horrible middle eastern sourced dirty diesel used in daz ohoh tdi VW.

[esp803]

When I was in Sandy, the Air Tractors were doing to the fuel hauling, them and occasionally ATR's from Calm Air. I don't know how a hawker can be competitive against either, I also don't know how many hawkers wasaya has operational at this time, but it seems to me it would be hard to do ALL the required fuel hauls with their limited fleet (while keeping the northern freight going). Gas back then was a mere 2.00 a litre.

As always, the residents lose over chief and council greed.

I actually don't think the residents will notice a difference. The government coffers might.

E

[upintheair_]

I wonder what would happen if the situation was reversed and a company dropped out of a contract because they didn't want to use a First Nations company.


Does Wasaya even have fuel bladders?

[fish4life]

They have a purpose built hawker for hauling fuel where the airplane's wing fuel tanks are split in half so they can take diesel in the wings and not eat into the ZFW.

[upintheair_]

Ah, I see. I see the Hawker all the time I've just only ever seen cargo come out of it. That makes sense I guess.

[fish4life]

Ya the fuel one often sits engineless until they need it

[Darkwing Duck]

Stupid thing is, did Wasaya even submit a bid? Or did they submit too late. Either way, they lost, so suck it up buttercup. Fair is fair. I hope Cargo North sues.

[TallCan]

Seriously, Hydro One actually accepted a bid for Air Tractors? Do those things even have boots? So when the powers about to go out and the weathers not so great that's the machine they want to depend on?

Of course it would be hard to "remain competitive" comparing a 702 operation to a 705.

[AOW]

Seriously, Hydro One actually accepted a bid for Air Tractors? Do those things even have boots? So when the powers about to go out and the weathers not so great that's the machine they want to depend on?

Of course it would be hard to "remain competitive" comparing a 702 operation to a 705.

The contract in question had been awarded to Cargo North, who operate BT67s. IIRC they are operating under 704, by way of an exemption.

[bobcaygeon]

Wasaya will likely be forced to match the price that Cargo North won the contract at.
The tax payer will take the hit when Cargo North (Kelner) sues Hydro One and gets paid for doing nothing.

Most of the places the Air Tractor will go it is easier to go VFR than IFR (ie approach limits)
The plane was built to fly low enough that it has to climb to get over power lines and is super maneuverable. I couldn't think of a better plane to circle in and the payload is amazing.

[goingnowherefast]

Seriously, Hydro One actually accepted a bid for Air Tractors? Do those things even have boots? So when the powers about to go out and the weathers not so great that's the machine they want to depend on?

I don't think the Hydro One pushes the fuel reserves that low. They have some pretty massive storage capacity at the reserves, they could wait a couple days if they needed to.

An AT802 decked out for fuel hauling, belly tank and all can carry a sh!t ton of fuel, can't imagine how any other airplane is competitive, be it a Basler, Hawker, or ATR. However politics usually wins....

[7ECA]

The Air Tractors are absolutely impressive when it comes to capacity and useful load. The AT-802A has a useful load of almost 9300 LBS.

And if you want to really get interesting, take a look at the AT-802U - that just looks like fun...

[New Flyer]

I wouldn't feel too bad for Cargo North. This is simply a it of Karma. Their whole MO has been to try and squirrel in with the Bands, and force the other carriers out. No sympathy here.

[goingnowherefast]

Isn't that how competition works in a free market? Know your customers, make sure the customer knows you, and offer them a product at a competitive price.

[upintheair_]

I wouldn't feel too bad for Cargo North. This is simply a it of Karma. Their whole MO has been to try and squirrel in with the Bands, and force the other carriers out. No sympathy here.

And what's wrong with that?

The whole comment with Sandy Lake saying their treaty 9 is with the Queen, not Ontario... well, then I guess they can go to Britain for their money. You can't have it both ways. It's a provincial service (Hydro One)... and therefore subject to provincial law.

[CID]

Here's my dirty little secret. I personally boycott all native enterprises. I don't use Wasaya or First Air. I don't go to native casinos or purposely spend any money in any FN community store, business or service if the money goes into "First Nations". I don't contribute to ANY charity or fund-raiser that doesn't benefit everyone regardless of race or cultural background and I don't buy tickets to any function that is focused on First Nations people or communities. It's not racism or culturally intolerant even a little bit.

What I am is fed up with being forced to pour my hard earned money into failed systems like the treaty reserves and the entire department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. I'm tired of watching guys using fish hook injuries to catch a $10K ride to the nearest town to party. I'm tired of the corruption of First Nations leaders and their complete lack of concern for their people who live in squalor and poverty. That is if you aren't related or "hired muscle" for the Chief and his council. I can't do anything about the money that I'm forced to pay into this bottomless pit of non-accountability but I'll be damned if I'm going to spend one red cent than I'm forced to and this little fuel haul contract squabble just re-enforces my boycott.

[Rookie50]

Here's my dirty little secret. I personally boycott all native enterprises. I don't use Wasaya or First Air. I don't go to native casinos or purposely spend any money in any FN community store, business or service if the money goes into "First Nations". I don't contribute to ANY charity or fund-raiser that doesn't benefit everyone regardless of race or cultural background and I don't buy tickets to any function that is focused on First Nations people or communities. It's not racism or culturally intolerant even a little bit.

What I am is fed up with being forced to pour my hard earned money into failed systems like the treaty reserves and the entire department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. I'm tired of watching guys using fish hook injuries to catch a $10K ride to the nearest town to party. I'm tired of the corruption of First Nations leaders and their complete lack of concern for their people who live in squalor and poverty. That is if you aren't related or "hired muscle" for the Chief and his council. I can't do anything about the money that I'm forced to pay into this bottomless pit of non-accountability but I'll be damned if I'm going to spend one red cent than I'm forced to and this little fuel haul contract squabble just re-enforces my boycott.

None of what you write surprises me. Easier (for most people ) to throw rocks than get hands dirty and become a part of the solution.

Note I'm not defending the actions in this post about this contract. Not the point but a broader issue has been raised and I am responding to that, which is this negative -- to put it mildly -- attitude towards all First Nations.

There are young people, women and children on these reserves that need help. They aren't the "corrupt" leadership. It's certainly not a 3 year olds fault it's born into that situation.

Some of you are in and out of these places regularly. What about getting involved and helping them? There are very simple small ways, that bypass the corruption, as well, to help the vunerable members.

But I get that most simply don't care, have no concept of the sheer lack of hope that comes from being born and raised in a community, surrounded by nothing by abuse in every form, isolation, poverty, addictions, and not one role model to look up to. No wonder the suicide rates are what they are.

Think about it.

My $0.02.

[goingnowherefast]

Some of you are in and out of these places regularly. What about getting involved and helping them? There are very simple small ways, that bypass the corruption, as well, to help the vunerable members.

That could be a quick way to get your company banned from a reserve airport. Corruption is unprecedented.

But I get that most simply don't care, have no concept of the sheer lack of hope that comes from being born and raised in a community, surrounded by nothing by abuse in every form, isolation, poverty, addictions, and not one role model to look up to. No wonder the suicide rates are what they are.

Your right, most of the voting population has no idea what's going on, and just ignore the problem. The current "solution" is just a feel-good idea and just perpetuates the problems. I feel sorry for the young kids too, I just have no idea what the solution is.

[fish4life]

The solution is to move some of the more progressive Chiefs from out west into Manitoba and NWONT and help the ones who actually want to make things better for their people be more powerful.

[AirMail]

The solution is to move some of the more progressive Chiefs from out west into Manitoba and NWONT and help the ones who actually want to make things better for their people be more powerful.

You mean someone like this guy?

Shuswap chief’s salary highest in B.C.
Chief Paul Sam’s take-home pay higher than prime minister’s at more than $200,000
Read more:
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Sh ... =c4fe-0dc7