Liberal candidates’ procurement pitches fail to address the long-standing issues, say observers
Some of the proposals ‘sound more like slogans’ that don’t point to ‘some sort of specific program,’ says procurement expert Richard Shimooka.
Hearts and minds: premiers’ mission won’t change Trump’s tack, but can still help Canada, say politicos
Economic measures like procurement bans and retaliatory tariffs can be used against the U.S., but a non-threatening approach would better resonate with Americans, says former Ontario deputy premier Dwight Duncan.
‘Big Four’ consultants raked in over $220-million in federal contracts last year, despite plans to cut spending
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux says 2024 spending on consultants seems ‘a bit high’ given the feds’ commitment to curbing its reliance on external contractors.
Feds eye March decision on replacing problem-plagued Phoenix payroll system
The government could replace the Phoenix payroll system in 2026-27, with officials deciding by March whether to greenlight the new Dayforce system depending on the outcome of testing.
Hiring IT contractors cost feds 22 per cent more than using public servants, PBO finds
Federal departments spent $2.66-billion on informatics services, including IT-related services, with more than half of the spending coming from five departments in 2022-23.
Procurement watchdog calls PSPC’s handling of interpreters’ contracts ‘unreasonable’
Ombud’s review of complaints says proposed changes would cut freelance interpreters’ number of billable hours, leading to less compensation for the same amount of work.
Feds spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year
The federal government spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year, despite calls to cut back on spending, criticism over its reliance on consultants, and flaws in contracting practices. A Hill Times analysis of the government’s public accounts for the 2023-24 fiscal year—which ended March 31, 2024—shows that the total spending on professional […]
Procurement Canada spent $5.4-billion in 2023-24, but plans to shrink workforce in coming years
The department forecasts staffing will keep growing in the current year before declining by thousands of full-time equivalent roles in 2025-26.
Federal departments fix 61 errors related to Indigenous business contracts on public database
The RCMP has corrected the status of two firms as non-Indigenous at Indigenous Services Canada’s direction. But one of those companies remains on the government’s controversial Indigenous Business Directory.
Former Indigenous procurement auditor calls pledge to examine the program ‘hypocritical’ after feds were warned of issues for years
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says her department is working on a plan to conduct an extensive audit of the government’s Indigenous procurement program.
