Blaming public service won’t resolve procurement issues, but more resources and oversight needed, says Duclos
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos reflects on a turbulent year in government contracting.
Ottawa’s office market, and affordable housing supply, hinge on how the feds offload vacant office space
Considering Canada needs to build five million extra residential units by 2030, speed is a priority.
Translation Bureau launches ‘entry-level’ accreditation pilot, raising red flags for industry association
The bureau’s plans are ‘watering down the qualification that’s required to uphold official language requirements,’ says AIIC Canada’s advocacy lead Nicole Gagnon.
Clones of 100-year-old elm tree planted on eastern slope of Parliament Hill
Six saplings cultivated at the University of Guelph from cuttings taken from the elm tree that was chopped down in 2019 were planted east of Centre Block last month.
‘A very challenging site’: breaking down Block 2 plans and progress
Schematic design plans for Block 2’s overhaul aren’t expected to be complete until 2025, but look for early signs of construction activity outside around the site this fall.
New funds for Translation Bureau largely aimed at existing efforts to tackle federal interpretation shortfall
Interpretation capacity issues already brewing pre-pandemic have constrained parliamentary work since the shift to hybrid work following the onset of COVID-19.
‘I made an error in judgment,’ CBSA official says of dining with ArriveCan contractors
‘People that admit openly that they’ve breached the basic code of conduct as civil servants are now being promoted,’ said Bloc Québécois MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné following the testimony.
Unions, experts call into question feds’ move to divest 50 per cent of property holdings while also calling for back-to-workplace policies
Stephanie Ross, an associate professor of labour studies, called the strategy ‘obviously contradictory’ in that less office space ‘means poorer and less effective working conditions for people when they come to work.’
PSPC deputy minister challenges the procurement watchdog’s ‘favouritism’ findings in McKinsey contracts
‘I do not accept the findings … I do not accept that there is favouritism for McKinsey in the current system, based on our assessment as a common service provider,’ Arianne Reza told the House Government Operations Committee on May 1.
Federal procurement already feeling blowback from ArriveCan scandal, say experts
As the government grapples with the repercussions of the ArriveCan debacle, industry experts say over-scrutiny in the process will likely slow down business.
