Trade tribunal calls for freeze on multimillion-dollar defence contract after complaints it favours U.S. supplier

Highly restrictive bid criteria made competition ‘impossible’ for Canadian and European companies to secure the contract for military night-vision goggles, says a filing from Canadian defence company Cadex.
We need a fix for bureaucratic delays—but is it a pipe dream?

The prime minister could and should spend his entire mandate trying to do this. But this is a classic example of a problem where the people responsible for fixing it are the same people who are the problem.
New U.K. trade strategy IDs Canada as ‘key partner’ to boost economy, procurement opportunities

The new plan defines strengthening ties with key partners like Canada as an ‘obvious priority,’ and builds on leaders’ commitments.
‘We can no longer sustain Band-Aid solutions’: watchdog calls for urgent changes to federal procurement

The system is ‘marked by silos of responsibility and accountability,’ and needs a convening figure, says Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic in a new report.
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.