Hospital commissionaires lose Health PEI security contract

Paladin Security, a Vancouver-based company has been awarded the tender to provide security at P.E.I.'s largest hospitals.

Health PEI says the company will take over Nov. 1.

Forty commissionaires working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Prince County Hospital received layoff notices Monday.

They are among 178 commissionaires on P.E.I. who provide security at a number of locations. The not-for-profit group was created in 1949 to provide meaningful employment for retired Canadian Armed Forces, ex-RCMP and security personnel. About 60 per cent are veterans.

"I was surprised, a bit shocked. We were quite confident going into our tendering process, anticipated our tender would be competitive and obviously it hasn't been," said Allan MacKinnon who oversees the commissionaires.

"I can tell you that a lot of them were very disappointed. It puts them and their livelihoodsin a bit of a jeopardy at this time in their lives, but I'm sure that we can take care of things down the road. We will regroup."

Health PEI said awarding the tender came down to money.

"Both made strong arguments for experience and staff they would bring. But with both providing high quality, it came down to what cost were we able to obtain it for," said Denise Lewis Fleming, executive director of financial services and pharmacare.

While Health PEI says it expects to save a lot of money over the next four years, Islanders will not see a reduction in service.

"This will be a change in who oversees and administers service, however the public should not see a substantial change at what they are experiencing when they come to our hospitals," said Lewis Fleming.

MacKinnon says the commissionaires will meet with Health PEI later this month to get feedback on their bid for the contract.

Meanwhile, Paladin Security says commissionaires will be able to apply for jobs with its company but didn't say if the pay would be comparable.

As of now, MacKinnon says the commissionaires will have priority placement for future assignments.