Hiring IT contractors cost feds 22 per cent more than using public servants, PBO finds

NewsBY IREM KOCA | UPDATED January 16, 2025

Federal departments spent $2.66-billion on informatics services, including IT-related services, with over half of the spending coming from five departments in 2022-23.

Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux released a report on Jan. 16 looking into the fiscal cost of hiring external IT-contractors. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Hiring IT contractors cost feds 22 per cent more than using public servants, PBO finds

NewsBY IREM KOCA | UPDATED January 16, 2025

Federal departments spent $2.66-billion on informatics services, including IT-related services, with over half of the spending coming from five departments in 2022-23.

Hiring IT contractors cost feds 22 per cent more than using public servants, PBO finds

NewsBY IREM KOCA | UPDATED January 16, 2025

Federal departments spent $2.66-billion on informatics services, including IT-related services, with over half of the spending coming from five departments in 2022-23.

THE LATEST

Atlantic Grits open to ‘practical’ leadership candidate who gets rural Canada, say local Liberals

NewsBY IAN CAMPBELL

The carbon tax remains a non-starter in the region, says Abacus Data’s Kelly Bennett, as it's become ‘a symbol of broader discontent, and misunderstanding of Atlantic Canadians.’

Atlantic Grits open to ‘practical’ leadership candidate who gets rural Canada, say local Liberals

NewsBY IAN CAMPBELL

The carbon tax remains a non-starter in the region, says Abacus Data’s Kelly Bennett, as it's become ‘a symbol of broader discontent, and misunderstanding

Hosting G7 summit will be first global test for a new prime minister

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Hosting G7 summit will be first global test for a new prime minister

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Changes to Liberal leadership rules ‘thin silver lining’ amid foreign interference cloud, says national security expert Carvin

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Liberal Party organizer and strategist Angelo Bakoulas says restricting the vote to members with permanent residency or citizenship was ‘the only choice.’

Liberal Party organizer and strategist Angelo Bakoulas says restricting the vote to members with permanent residency or citizenship was ‘the only choice.’

Liberals’ legacy of legalized cannabis at risk as hopes for tax relief ‘slim to none’ before next election: industry

NewsBY STUART BENSON

The inability to commit to a nationalized excise stamp in the fall economic statement is 'baffling,' says Cannabis Council of Canada president Paul McCarthy.

The inability to commit to a nationalized excise stamp in the fall economic statement is 'baffling,' says Cannabis Council of Canada president Paul McCarthy.

Israel happy to wait for potential Conservative government, says former Canadian envoy

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

'I do hope that some of the policies will change, and the sooner the better,' Israeli Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed says of Ottawa's approach to his country.

'I do hope that some of the policies will change, and the sooner the better,' Israeli Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed says of Ottawa's

POLITICS THIS MORNING

Mark Carney has entered the chat, officially

Plus, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meets American leaders in Washington, D.C.

BY RIDDHI KACHHELA

OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Why top Liberal women are hesitant to run for leader

Women thinking of joining the leadership race face a glass cliff: the phenomenon where they’re likely to be promoted in times of crisis, and often scapegoated for failure.

BY REBECCA BAILEY

Opinion

BY SHEILA COPPS

Here’s why Karina Gould’s got my vote

Opinion

BY ERICA IFILL

Drawing the wrong conclusions

Opinion

BY JOSIE SABATINO

From affordability to accountability: political leaders navigate the Trump era of chaos

Opinion

BY LES WHITTINGTON

Two-nation partnership that was a beacon of trust in a fractious world goes down Trump’s drain

NEWS

Procurement watchdog calls PSPC’s handling of interpreters’ contracts ‘unreasonable’

NewsBY IREM KOCA

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.

Procurement watchdog calls PSPC’s handling of interpreters’ contracts ‘unreasonable’

NewsBY IREM KOCA

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.

Lost federal revenue, property, money jumps to $649.5-million in 2023-24: Public Accounts

NewsBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT | UPDATED January 14, 2025

Carney expected to launch Liberal leadership bid in Edmonton Thursday: sources

NewsBY ABBAS RANA | UPDATED January 14, 2025

Liberal leadership candidates can pay $350,000 entry fee in instalments, but unclear if any portion is refundable

NewsBY ABBAS RANA | UPDATED January 13, 2025

Feds spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year

NewsBY IREM KOCA

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

Parliamentary Calendar

UofT hosts launch for Catherine Tsalikis’ new book on Chrystia Freeland on Jan. 21

Podcast

Frank Baylis on his bid for the Liberal leadership

feature

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Best Books in 2024

List

Who went where in Trudeau’s cabinet shake-up?

Podcast

‘Amateur hour on the Rideau,’ with Sheila Copps

Health Policy in the 44th Parliament

Innovation policy and funding

Top 100 Lobbyists of the 44th Parliament

Pierre Poilievre: Politics, Policy, People and Leadership

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

Team (Most Of) Canada

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

Plus, Trudeau rules out another run in Papineau.

Team (Most Of) Canada

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

Plus, Trudeau rules out another run in Papineau.

Will they, won’t they?

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

POLITICS

Liberals must ditch carbon pricing and ‘activist-driven policies,’ says leadership hopeful Arya

NewsBY PETER MAZEREEUW

The Prorogues

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

This year in photos: Liberal caucus revolt, Canada Post strike, and Freeland steps down from caucus

FeatureBY ANDREW MEADE

Minister MacAulay’s longtime chief of staff exits, new one named

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Minister MacAulay’s longtime chief of staff exits, new one named

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

THE HILL TIMES NEWSPAPER

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

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Monday, January 13, 2025

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Wednesday, December 18, 2024

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OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Opinion

BY BEN EISEN

Trudeau leaves office with worst economic growth record in recent Canadian history

Opinion

BY GERRY NICHOLLS

The politics of Trump’s Panama Canal gambit

Opinion

BY FRANCESCA BASTA, BRADLEE WHIDDEN

Investing in our future: building a more productive Canada

Modernizing the Métis National Council

OpinionBY VICTORIA PRUDEN

The Métis National Council is at a crossroads, but not without a map, offering a clear focus on a vision of service and self-determination.

Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers stalled by U.S. sanctions

OpinionBY GWYNNE DYER

Why hasn’t AI changed Canada yet?

OpinionBY RICARDO ARENA

Expanding data centres gives a chance to leverage technology where Canada is already a leader, and to share the benefits broadly.

Why hasn’t AI changed Canada yet?

OpinionBY RICARDO ARENA

Expanding data centres gives a chance to leverage technology where Canada is already a leader, and to share the benefits broadly.

Did parties learn anything from the foreign interference inquiry?

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

Grit race a chance to address inequality issues: B.C. reader

Opinion

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY DE ADDER

de Adder’s Take: 01-15-2025

de Adder’s Take: 01-13-2025

de Adder’s Take: 12-18-2024

Environment & Climate Change

First Nations chiefs shouldn’t be duped by ‘nuclear-is-green’ deception

Nuclear power is touted as 'green.' It is not, despite what big-money firms are saying. They are also lobbying to convince the public that they should foot the bill for a process that pollutes from the day it starts. Water is life.

BY WILLIAM ERIC ALTVATER

Welcome to ‘uncharted territory’

If we’re already 'in uncharted territory,' then what do we do next? There is no realistic short-term way to boost our emissions cuts: even if the will were there, the alternative energy sources take much time to build.

BY GWYNNE DYER

Canada must lead the fight against plastic pollution

To stem the tide of plastic pollution, Canada must phase out hard-to-recycle single-use plastics and prioritize reusable, refillable alternatives.

BY JOSH LAUGHREN

What Canada needs in its next prime minister

In the future post-Justin Trudeau era, Canada will need someone who understands what the masses feel economically, who recognizes we're at a perilous moment in our planet's evolution.

BY JOSEPH INGRAM

Parliament gridlock must end to tackle Canada’s biodiversity crisis

Critical legislation to combat the biodiversity crisis is being sidelined as MPs bicker.

BY CHARLOTTE DAWE

FOREIGN POLICY

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Trump overdoses on unlimited power

OpinionBY MICHAEL HARRIS

Enhancing and protecting the historic Canada-U.S. relationship

OpinionBY FRANçOIS DESMARAIS

Leadership race positions Liberals to own coming news cycles about Donald Trump

OpinionBY BHAGWANT SANDHU

Trump’s threats could make us stronger and prouder, if we’re ready to try

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

The big question will be how much pain we are ready to endure before acceding to Trump's demands, and how much we are prepared to do to build a new economy.

Trump’s threats could make us stronger and prouder, if we’re ready to try

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

The big question will be how much pain we are ready to endure before acceding to Trump's demands, and how much we are prepared to do to build a new economy.

BOOKS, BIG IDEAS, Q&As

Angus says his new book is not a lament, it’s a call to arms

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY

Charlie Angus talks about his new book, Dangerous Memory: Coming of Age in the Decade of Greed, and about the state of federal politics today.

Angus says his new book is not a lament, it’s a call to arms

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY

Charlie Angus talks about his new book, Dangerous Memory: Coming of Age in the Decade of Greed, and about the state of federal politics today.

Author of Trudeau biography says he doesn’t think Trudeau will run again, but Lanthier says ‘even if he might lose, he wants to go down fighting against Pierre Poilievre’

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY

Exploring the legacy of COVID pandemic panic

FeatureBY JOANNA BARON, CHRISTINE VAN GEYN

Getting everyone a ‘front door into the health system’: Jane Philpott weighs in on fixing health care, and her future in politics

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW

U.S. election preoccupies Canada’s top 50 foreign influencers as feds’ focus gets pulled from Asia strategy

NewsBY NEIL MOSS, STEPHEN JEFFERY, STUART BENSON, JONAH GRIGNON

Retaliatory tariffs, PR offensives: how the government can respond to Trump’s threats while Parliament is prorogued

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remains the head of government and holds a variety of trade mechanisms to counter Trump, while Liberal MP John McKay says the leadership challenge gives the executive the ability of 'not having to respond to everything that Donald Trump thinks or says that is actually advantageous.'

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, will be inaugurated as Liberals campaign to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but the outgoing leader still has mechanisms to stand up to the incoming administration south of the border, say experts. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Retaliatory tariffs, PR offensives: how the government can respond to Trump’s threats while Parliament is prorogued

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remains the head of government and holds a variety of trade mechanisms to counter Trump, while Liberal MP John McKay says the leadership challenge gives the executive the ability of 'not having to respond to everything that Donald Trump thinks or says that is actually advantageous.'

Retaliatory tariffs, PR offensives: how the government can respond to Trump’s threats while Parliament is prorogued

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remains the head of government and holds a variety of trade mechanisms to counter Trump, while Liberal MP John McKay says the leadership challenge gives the executive the ability of 'not having to respond to everything that Donald Trump thinks or says that is actually advantageous.'

After Assad’s fall in Syria, could Iran’s Khamenei be next?

OpinionBY ANDREW LATHAM

The days of Iran’s unchecked regional ascendancy are over. Whether Khamenei can avoid Assad’s fate remains an open question, but the parallels between the two leaders are increasingly difficult to ignore.

Canadians ‘Russian to conclusions’ on Tenet Media worsens effects of foreign interference, say digital media researchers

NewsBY STUART BENSON

A probe by the Canadian Digital Media Research Network found thousands of social media posts falsely linking the Conservatives to Russian interference after the U.S. indictment of Tenet Media.

Liberals break pledge to table forced labour bill in 2024

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

In the 2023 and 2024 budgets, the federal government committed to introduce a force labour bill 'by' and 'in' 2024, but it never materialized.

International Trade Minister Mary Ng says Ottawa 'must ensure' that global supply chains are free of forced labour, but has yet to table legislation to strengthen the Canadian regime. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals break pledge to table forced labour bill in 2024

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

In the 2023 and 2024 budgets, the federal government committed to introduce a force labour bill 'by' and 'in' 2024, but it never materialized.

Liberals break pledge to table forced labour bill in 2024

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

In the 2023 and 2024 budgets, the federal government committed to introduce a force labour bill 'by' and 'in' 2024, but it never materialized.

Women are essential to the peace process

OpinionBY MARíA WONG

Women’s rights organizations are doing critical work in Gaza, but are dramatically underfunded.

Canada’s immigration detention system violates disability rights

OpinionBY SAMER MUSCATI, HANNA GROS

Each year, Canada detains thousands of people on immigration grounds, many of whom are fleeing persecution and traumatic experiences.

Canada needs a stable democratic partner in South Korea

OpinionBY MIKE DANAGHER

The success of Korea’s democracy is crucial to Canada’s interests in a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

THE LATEST POLICY BRIEFINGS

Environment Policy Briefing

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The North Policy Briefing

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Aerospace Policy Briefing

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features

Donald Trump to be sworn in as president of the United States on Monday, Jan. 20

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

Donald Trump to be sworn in as president of the United States on Monday, Jan. 20

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Singh pushes for tit-for-tat tariffs

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA

‘Maple syrup, meet Belgian waffle’: The Economist calls for Canada to join the EU

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

Are we fascist yet?

FeatureBY CHRISTOPHER DORNAN

Civil servants and the public ‘will suffer’ without moving bill on whistleblower protection, says Centre for Free Expression director

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

‘First Nations can’t be left to the sidelines’: AFN leaders address the months ahead

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA, PETER MAZEREEUW

Liberal caucus meets

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

From third party to PMO: Trudeau’s leadership in photos

FeatureBY THE HILL TIMES STAFF

Parliamentary Calendar

Liberal MP Mendicino to host New Year’s Levée in Toronto on Jan. 12

Podcast

The sales tax holiday, with Corinne Pohlmann

News

Poilievre voted best public speaker, most quotable, hardest-working, and biggest self-promoter in The Hill Times’ 29th Annual Politically Savvy Survey

News

Always leave them wanting more: Fraser tops All Politics Poll as he looks to exit federal politics

Podcast

How to lower housing prices, with Carolyn Whitzman

The results are in for the 2024 All Politics Poll

Exposing the risk of breast implants in Canada

The most up-to-date list of Ministers’ staff contacts

Broadband Connectivity in Canada: The Funding, the Players, and the Challenges

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A community for political junkies

The Hill Times subscribers are not your average Canadians, they don’t just want to
read the headlines, they want the full back story, the context and the implications.

EXCLUSIVE LISTS

Breaking down 343 federal ridings by rural and urban designations

How would Canadians vote in the U.S. election? Survey shows a bent towards blue

Liberal MPs who spoke at the closed-door caucus showdown on Oct. 23

Cabinet’s communications and chiefs of staff list, October 2024

A timeline of political violence and rising security on Parliament Hill since 2014

MP salary top-ups for committee, parlsec, and extra House duties

MPs not running in the next election

How much do party leaders and their top deputies make?

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Finance & Budget

Liberals’ legacy of legalized cannabis at risk as hopes for tax relief ‘slim to none’ before next election: industry

The inability to commit to a nationalized excise stamp in the fall economic statement is 'baffling,' says Cannabis Council of Canada president Paul McCarthy.

BY STUART BENSON

Lost federal revenue, property, money jumps to $649.5-million in 2023-24: Public Accounts

Last year saw a considerable jump in lost federal revenue, from $14.3-million in 2022-23 to roughly $252.9-million.

BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Prime Minister’s Office confirms it cancelled year-end media interviews following fallout from Freeland’s bombshell mic drop

The PMO cancelled interviews with at least seven outlets: Global News, CBC, CTV, Radio-Canada, TVA Nouvelles, and a joint interview with CityNews and OMNI Television. Spark Advocacy’s Bruce Anderson says if 'your plan is to challenge Canadians to follow your leadership in an impending economic/trade crisis, as a way of saving your leadership, you do not give up these communications platforms.'

BY SOPHALL DUCH

Expanding AI in government operations, modernizing Service Canada sites among feds’ fiscal update’s public service-related measures

The Dec. 16 fall economic update offers no further details on planned savings tied to 'natural attrition' in the 2024 federal budget, but noted that effort 'will begin showing results in 2025-26.'

BY SOPHALL DUCH

Freeland’s opportunism on display in stunning resignation letter

Chrystia Freeland ought to be reminded that she's held the finance portfolio since 2020. Not one of her budgets was ever balanced.

BY BHAGWANT SANDHU

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the national supply chain office “will enhance the resilience, efficiency, and reliability of our transportation systems,” in a Transport Canada press release on Dec. 1, 2023.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.