- Reaction score
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Found this on Global and Mail website
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080916.welxnmayknife0916/BNStory/Front
copy from the article
BILL CURRY
Globe and Mail Update
September 16, 2008 at 12:20 PM EDT
OTTAWA — Green Party Leader Elizabeth May took a shot at Defence Minister Peter MacKay today, accusing his department of cancelling a supply contract with a knife manufacturer in the minister's own riding.
Mr. MacKay's riding of Central Nova also happens to be the same one that Ms. May has chosen to run in as a candidate.
The Green Leader issued a statement Tuesday morning expressing her “shock” that Canada would end its knife contract with the Pictou firm.
“My next thought was what kind of other shoddy non-Canadian goods are being purchased for our soldiers in cost-cutting measures?" said Ms. May's statement.
Michelle Jamieson, a co-owner of the Grohmann Knives company in Pictou County, confirmed that after more than 20 years of successful bids, her company has lost the annual knife contract to a Chinese manufacturer two years ago. The company has since been unsuccessful at winning back the contract.
Ms. Jamieson said her company raised the issue directly with Mr. MacKay and then-Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier when they toured the Grohmann Knives factory in June.
The knives are used by paratroopers to escape from their parachute harness.
Ms. Jamieson said the Chinese-made knives look the same as the ones designed by her company except they say Made in China. She said the company has received many complaints about their poor quality from users who were not aware they are no longer made by the Pictou firm.
“It's too bad it had to look like our knife too,” she said. “It's kind of bad enough that [we] lost the contract, but it also looks like our distinctly Canadian design, that was designed by Canadians for Canadians by our company.”
Mr. MacKay said through a spokesman that he is encouraging local Canadian Forces units to buy local when possible. Mr. MacKay's spokesman, Dan Dugas, noted that local units can buy material directly from suppliers without going through Defence HQ if the total cost is less than $5,000.
“[Mr. MacKay] is encouraging them to buy locally because the Grohmann product is an exceptional product made by skilled workers,” said Mr. Dugas in an email.
The spokesman further pointed out that larger contracts must go to the lowest bidder.
“The Department of Public Works has awarded contracts in the past to Canadian companies on big orders, such as Grohmann and other companies, based on who submitted the lowest bid to get value for money, which is the law,” he wrote.
I am hoping this is not True.. ???
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080916.welxnmayknife0916/BNStory/Front
copy from the article
BILL CURRY
Globe and Mail Update
September 16, 2008 at 12:20 PM EDT
OTTAWA — Green Party Leader Elizabeth May took a shot at Defence Minister Peter MacKay today, accusing his department of cancelling a supply contract with a knife manufacturer in the minister's own riding.
Mr. MacKay's riding of Central Nova also happens to be the same one that Ms. May has chosen to run in as a candidate.
The Green Leader issued a statement Tuesday morning expressing her “shock” that Canada would end its knife contract with the Pictou firm.
“My next thought was what kind of other shoddy non-Canadian goods are being purchased for our soldiers in cost-cutting measures?" said Ms. May's statement.
Michelle Jamieson, a co-owner of the Grohmann Knives company in Pictou County, confirmed that after more than 20 years of successful bids, her company has lost the annual knife contract to a Chinese manufacturer two years ago. The company has since been unsuccessful at winning back the contract.
Ms. Jamieson said her company raised the issue directly with Mr. MacKay and then-Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier when they toured the Grohmann Knives factory in June.
The knives are used by paratroopers to escape from their parachute harness.
Ms. Jamieson said the Chinese-made knives look the same as the ones designed by her company except they say Made in China. She said the company has received many complaints about their poor quality from users who were not aware they are no longer made by the Pictou firm.
“It's too bad it had to look like our knife too,” she said. “It's kind of bad enough that [we] lost the contract, but it also looks like our distinctly Canadian design, that was designed by Canadians for Canadians by our company.”
Mr. MacKay said through a spokesman that he is encouraging local Canadian Forces units to buy local when possible. Mr. MacKay's spokesman, Dan Dugas, noted that local units can buy material directly from suppliers without going through Defence HQ if the total cost is less than $5,000.
“[Mr. MacKay] is encouraging them to buy locally because the Grohmann product is an exceptional product made by skilled workers,” said Mr. Dugas in an email.
The spokesman further pointed out that larger contracts must go to the lowest bidder.
“The Department of Public Works has awarded contracts in the past to Canadian companies on big orders, such as Grohmann and other companies, based on who submitted the lowest bid to get value for money, which is the law,” he wrote.
I am hoping this is not True.. ???
) has a rather good sense of her direction and 'life experience' 
