Coulson Aircrane claims Sask. paid $187M for planes worth half, asks court to overturn sole-sourced deal with Conair.
Sask. accused of overpaying $100M for firefighting planes
Court challenge filed over aircraft deal
A B.C.-based aviation company is taking the Saskatchewan government to court, alleging taxpayers are being overcharged by more than $100 million for new firefighting planes. Coulson Aircrane, a global leader in retrofitted airtankers, says the province improperly awarded a $187-million contract to competitor Conair Group without a fair bidding process.
Allegations of flawed procurement
In an affidavit filed with the Court of King’s Bench, Coulson president Britt Coulson argues Saskatchewan bypassed normal procurement rules when approving the purchase of four Q400 planes from Conair. He claims his company could have supplied comparable aircraft for less than half the cost, saving the province millions.
Government defends decision
The province approved the purchase in February 2024, after widespread criticism that aging aircraft were sidelined during a severe spring wildfire season. Saskatchewan maintains its process was “fair, open and transparent,” and insists Conair’s planes were the only ones that met technical requirements set by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).
Dispute over cost and design
Coulson contends a Q400 can be bought and retrofitted for about $10 million per plane, far below Conair’s $46.7-million price tag. He also argues that Saskatchewan’s size and tank-capacity requirements were tailored to favour Conair. His affidavit estimates Conair stands to earn $147 million in profit from the deal.
Claims of bias raised
The court filing highlights potential conflicts of interest. Coulson points to SPSA executive director of air operations, Peter Boniface, who previously worked for Conair, as a factor that may have influenced the sole-sourced contract. The government rejects the allegation, saying Boniface’s past role had no bearing on the decision.
Next steps in court
Coulson is asking the court to quash the contract and order a competitive tender. Saskatchewan has pushed back, arguing Coulson’s challenge is late and that cancelling the agreement would disrupt wildfire response, given that one aircraft has already been delivered. The case is expected to return to court later this fall.
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