Navigator Ltd Releases Contracts with Government of Alberta

CALGARY, Jan. 31, 2014 /CNW/ - Navigator Ltd (Navigator) is aware of a request for access to records under Alberta's Freedom of Information and Privacy of Protection Act (FOIP) concerning contracts between Navigator and the Government of Alberta (GOA). Navigator has informed the GOA that it has no objections to the release of this information.

Additionally, understanding - and whole heartedly supporting - public expectations around openness and transparency when it comes to use of tax dollars, Navigator is today voluntarily releasing all contracts that have been completed for the GOA from 2011 to the end of 2013.  Some of this information has been previously disclosed in the GOA's Blue Book.

In June of 2013, Alberta faced the largest natural disaster in its history. The GOA response to this crisis was swift. All necessary resources were mobilized to help Albertans in their time of need. As part of the GOA's efforts, in July of 2013, the GOA engaged Navigator to assist it in the important task of communicating with Albertans.

In crisis situations of this magnitude it is routine and widely accepted as a best practice for governments and other large organizations to hire outside experts. As one of Canada's leading strategic communications firms, Navigator immediately responded to this request and was honoured to do so.

At the conclusion of this work in October of 2013, Navigator engaged independent industry experts to conduct an audit and third party review of the communications services it provided to the GOA. That review found that the quality of Navigator's work and timeliness reflected the importance of the assignment and exceeded industry norms and expectations. Further, it concluded that Navigator's fees were appropriate for the volume of work associated with the contract and that Navigator's costs likely exceeded what was actually billed to the Government of Alberta.

In both the private and public sector, when a crisis occurs, Navigator's clients depend on our custom-built communications plans and our ability to rapidly activate and deploy a team of experts. They also depend on our professionalism and the importance we place on high standards of service.

Navigator Ltd operates across Canada with offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Toronto.

Appendix

Date and Term of Contract	Government Department	Description of Contract	Contracted Amount	Invoiced Amount
July 18, 2013 to October 31, 2013	Southern Alberta Flood Recovery Task Force	Services to be provided and materials delivered related to strategic communication and related services and advice, as well as communication strategy for the Flood Mitigation Symposium and logistical planning for the Event, and communications strategy for the Provincial Recognition Program.	$250,000.00	$240,000.00 plus $7,116.40 in third party expenses incurred on behalf of the Flood Mitigation Symposium
August 26, 2013 to September 30, 2013	Public Affairs Bureau	To conduct focus groups in Alberta on Government's response and recovery efforts related to southern Alberta flooding.	$73,200.00	$73,200.00
September 2012	Energy	Communications Audit		$13,492.50
June 1, 2012 to September 2012	Health	Strategic Communications Services	$74,000.00	$73,600.00
March 5, 2012 to May 31, 2012 (contract was terminated effective March 31, 2012)	Health and Wellness	Strategic Planning, Advice and Communications Services	$67,500.00	$31,437.50
November 28, 2011 to December 30, 2011	Health and Wellness	Services related to stakeholder consultation and qualitative research regarding stakeholder perception of Alberta's health care system in its current state and the preferred future state of the health care system.	$74,400.00	$74,400.00
December 19, 2011 to January 31, 2012	Health & Wellness	Services related to its public-facing communications efforts	$40,000.00	$40,000.00

 

SOURCE: Navigator Limited

For further information and for copies of the contracts and third party review contact:
Navigator Ltd.:
587 350 7931