Premier defends contract with American company to strip Macdonald Bridge

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has made a decision to move forward with a $70-million contract with an American company, Liberty Blastech, for work on the Macdonald Bridge in Halifax. This decision comes after earlier statements that the province would cancel and avoid contracts with American companies in response to tariffs imposed by the U.S.

The contract, which was announced earlier this week, will involve two years of work to strip and repaint the towers of the bridge. While Liberty Blastech is registered in Nova Scotia, its directors are based in Maryland and Ohio. Premier Houston defended the decision, stating that the contract was necessary for public safety and that no Nova Scotian or Canadian company was capable of completing the work.

In March, amidst a trade war with the U.S., Houston had declared that American businesses would no longer be allowed to bid on provincial procurements. However, the province has since backed away from 11 contracts totaling $130,000. The Premier emphasized the importance of choosing qualified companies for projects involving public safety.

The bridge project will prioritize local sourcing, with 95% of supplies being bought in Nova Scotia and 70% of laborers being local. Opposition leader Claudia Chender urged the province to build capacity within local companies to handle future large contracts. She expressed concerns about the definition of a “Nova Scotian company” and called for more clarity on this issue.

Public Works Minister Fred Tilley stated that each project and contract will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with no specific guidelines for American bidders. Liberal MLA Iain Rankin supported Premier Houston’s decision, but agreed with Chender on the need to make large contracts more accessible to local companies.

The debate over the Macdonald Bridge contract highlights the challenges of balancing economic interests with local procurement policies. As Nova Scotia moves forward with the project, it will be important to ensure transparency and accountability in future contracting decisions.