The point is to ensure that a maximum number of companies perform the work through SNC-Lavalin. A greater number of companies fosters competitiveness. And of course, if you increase competitiveness, you decrease prices. If there were only two companies offering services in a particular field, they could easily fix prices. However, if there are 150, it is a lot harder for them to fix prices. So, the more competition there is, the lower the costs are, and the better off the federal government is.
On April 26th, 2010. See this statement in context.