MPP Percy Hatfield (NDP — Windsor-Tecumseh) is adding his voice to those concerned about the unpaid local bills of the makers of the rejected parkway girders.
Almost all the materials that Freyssinet-Tierra Armada used to manufacture hundreds of girders for the Herb Gray Parkway were purchased from area companies — until it was determined that the girders were below standard and needed to be replaced.
During question period at Queen’s Park on Thursday, Hatfield called on the Ontario Liberal government and the Ministry of Transportation to take action and exert greater pressure on Freysinnet-Tierra Armada to settle their accounts in a timely manner.
“It just makes no sense to me why these international guys wouldn’t pay their bills,” Hatfield said later. “I don’t think it’s that complicated.”
According to Hatfield, there are from eight to a dozen local firms owed money by the French and Spanish girder makers.
One Windsor company — Hotham Building Materials — is waiting on $116,388, Hatfield said.
“Some of these companies can’t survive being owed this kind of money,” Hatfield said. “You get a small company like (Hotham), the banks are starting to call.”
In early November, Hotham Building Materials owner Charlie Hotham told The Star that Freysinnet’s bills were overdue months ago.
“We had a deal to supply them product. We expect to be paid, want to be paid, and deserved to be paid as part of that agreement,” Hotham said.
Hatfield said he hasn’t spoken with Freysinnet-Tierra Armada, but he’s raised the issue with Ontario Minister of Transportation Glen Murray at least six times.
Freysinnet spokesman Franck Chavent did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
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