Question Period Notes
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In accordance with the Access to Information Act, the government proactively publishes the package of question period notes that were prepared by a government institution for the minister and that were in use on the last sitting day in June and December.
The question period notes may be partially or fully redacted in accordance with the legislation; for example, if the notes contain information related to national security or personal information. (Learn more about exemptions and exclusions.)
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Recent media articles have noted that the federal government is planning to join a B.C. class-action lawsuit that accuses McKinsey & Company of engaging in reckless marketing campaigns to boost opioid sales should the class-action move forward. This is in the context of ongoing criticism of McKinsey’s consulting work around the world and ongoing concerns relating to the federal government’s use of consulting firms including McKinsey.
On April 28, 2023, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) awarded a $93.1 million contract to Pomerleau Inc. for construction services related to the modernization of the Daniel J. MacDonald Building in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island after PSPC determined that it had inadvertently and unknowingly erred during the procurement process.
Public Services and Procurement Canada is implementing the Long Term Vision and Plan – a multi-decade strategy to restore and modernize the Parliamentary Precinct. The core of the Parliamentary Precinct includes the grounds and buildings on Parliament Hill and the three city blocks directly facing it.
The Department is also supporting Crown-Indigenous Relations to develop a national space for Indigenous Peoples within the Parliamentary Precinct. The project includes the re-development of the former US Embassy (located at 100 Wellington Street), the CIBC building (located at 119 Sparks Street) and an infill space between the two buildings.
Note: Questions related to the Indigenous Peoples’ Space (100 Wellington) should be directed to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations as the overall lead for the Indigenous Peoples’ Space.
Public Service and Procurement Canada’s Translation Bureau continues to work with the House Administration, Senate Administration and all partners to support Parliament’s hybrid sittings while ensuring the health and safety of its interpreters.
The current contract for the provision of interpretation services to Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Translation Bureau expires on June 30, 2023. Consultations for the next contract are underway. For staff interpreters, the collective bargaining process is ongoing.
Public Services and Procurement Canada and Shared Services Canada is delivering on the Government of Canada’s commitment to increase the diversity of bidders on government contracts.
Public Services and Procurement Canada in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada and Treasury Board Secretariat are actively working to increase the participation of Indigenous businesses in federal procurement.
There has been recent media attention on federal government spending on professional services contracts, noting a 40% increase between fiscal year 2015-16 and 2020-21. This information was sourced from the Public Accounts of Canada, tabled in the House of Commons on December 14, 2021. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) is currently carrying out a study on this issue. Budget 2023 proposes to reduce spending on consulting, other professional services, and travel by roughly 15 per cent of planned 2023-24 discretionary spending in these areas. This will result in savings of $7.1 billion over five years, starting in 2023-24, and $1.7 billion ongoing. The government will focus on targeting these reductions on professional services, particularly management consulting.
Note: All questions related to McKinsey’s work on Robotic Process Automation and Accelerator Services are in a separate question period note (Phoenix IBM and pay stabilization)
There has been recent media and Parliamentary attention related to contracts awarded to McKinsey and Company, and outsourcing more broadly.
Budget 2019 provided funding for the replacement of the Alexandra Bridge, and the rehabilitation and ongoing maintenance of the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge and the Chaudière Crossing. It also provided direction for refreshing technical studies on a potential additional (6th) interprovincial crossing in the National Capital Region and developing a Long-Term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan.
The Official Residences of Canada: 2021 Asset Portfolio Condition Report was released by the National Capital Commission (NCC) in 2021 and identified a requirement for a one-time injection of $175 million over 10 years to address the deferred maintenance deficit for all six official residences.