If we can’t move it, we can’t sell it: reducing Canada’s reliance on the U.S. demands a national trade infrastructure strategy
While peer nations have long-term strategies to build and maintain the infrastructure that supports trade, Canada stands alone among its global competitors in lacking a coherent plan. That needs to change. Now.
Feds’ new ‘reciprocal procurement’ policy to limit foreign access to contracts amid U.S. trade tensions
The new policy is a testament to the ‘changing world order,’ says Liberal strategist Geoff Turner. ‘Now, if you do not have a procurement agreement through either a free trade agreement or other generalized agreement, you don’t get to play in Canada.’
The PBO’s take on public service bloat and staffing cuts
While the size of the public service is beginning to shrink after more than a decade of growth, the forecasted cuts still leaves the number of full time staff well above pre-pandemic levels, a new analysis shows.
‘Nobody is spared’: Treasury Board plans to cut staff by 10 per cent, with most from ‘employer’ oversight roles
The Treasury Board Secretariat’s departmental plan forecasts an increase in spending, and a decrease in full-time equivalent jobs in its employer oversight unit.
Skeleton of new Parliament Welcome Centre starts taking shape
Meanwhile, workers continue to haul bedrock out from under the historic Centre Block building as part of excavations that will reach 23 metres below ground.
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.
