The federal attorney general is suing an architect, contractor, roofing company and a warranty group, alleging substandard construction of a $4.1-million washroom facility in Rogers Pass.
According to a notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court Dec. 7, the government issued a request for a consultant in June 2017 for a washroom facility at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre in Glacier National Park on the Trans-Canada Highway.
The request sought a consultant to prepare conceptual, preliminary and final designs and tender-ready documents.
The government selected Riddell Architect Ltd. of Calgary as that consultant at an original cost of $235,820, an amount later rising to $324,067, the claim said.
Based on Riddell’s work, the government chose a $4.1-million bid from Vic Van Isle (VVI) Construction of Revelstoke. The claim said VVI then chose Laing Roofing of Kelowna as the roofing subcontractor.
The claim said VVI was responsible for supplying and installing building materials and for supervising subcontractors. It said Laing was responsible for supplying and installing roof materials.
Laing, in turn, was responsible for securing a warranty from RCABC Guarantee Corp. That organization, the claim said, was responsible for reviewing construction to ensure compliance with its regulations.
The warranty was to run Aug. 4, 2021 to Aug. 4, 2031.
In December 2020, the claim said, the government noticed the roof of the partially completed washroom facility was leaking with water pooling inside and outside.
The government issued a certificate of substantial completion in November 2021 but a month later noticed a similar leak pattern.
The claim said the government has made repeated efforts to correct the problem, efforts it said are documented in change orders to Riddell.
The claim asserts breaches of contract and negligence.
The government is seeking general and specific damages.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
