Feds tighten grip on consultant contracts with new procurement rules, $20M cap on time-based work
New procurement rules include a $20-million limit on time- and task-based contracts, stricter oversight, and mandatory value-for-money reviews.
PSPC’s three-year $17.5-billion spending plan lacks clear roadmap to future goals, say insiders
With billions on the line and a track record of failed targets, how PSPC plans to deliver on its goals is unclear from its recent departmental plan. ‘Fact is, if the department can’t meet the expectations of delivery for this new government, then heads will roll,’ says Sahir Khan.
Here are some ways to revolutionize the federal government for tomorrow’s challenges
The federal government needs to stop hiring generalist policy writers and start hiring experts in their field, and then hire managers and leaders with people and management expertise. That’s how we modernize this government.
F-35 audit a costly reminder to make bureaucrats accountable
The public service needs a culture of outcomes, not optics. That means making executives accountable, and, yes, having the courage to dismiss those who fail in ways that cost Canadians millions.
Carney’s quiet public service revolution
The public service is being retooled piece by piece to meet the demands of delivery. The changes may outlast the agenda that sparked them.
PSPC using an AI bot named ‘Ava’ to help clear Phoenix pay system backlog
With about 450,00 outstanding cases tied to the faulty pay system, an artificial intelligence virtual agent is tasked with clearing 160,000 over the next 15 months.
‘Too many rules’: AG urges feds to streamline procurement, reduce outsourcing
Auditor General Karen Hogan says ‘worrying observations’ around procurement processes need to be addressed.
PSPC refers two new procurement fraud cases to RCMP; feds take GC Strategies, subcontractor to court over billing practices
The department says it is ‘actively pursuing the recovery of illegitimate amounts billed to the government and referring cases to the RCMP for criminal investigation.’
New minister Lightbound plans to tap AI to help to fix procurement, government efficiency woes
With billions of dollars on the line and intense public scrutiny, Government Transformation and Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound says adopting new technologies is ‘precisely one way to achieve [efficiency] without increasing the size of our public service.’
BOIE pushes discussion of NDP resources to future meeting as Bloc mulls ‘significant’ rule changes
Plus, the board approved a full carryforward for the House’s budget this year, with an extra $4.9-million to be sought through the next supplementary estimates.
