Evidence of meeting #85 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was contract.
A video is available from Parliament.
Manager, Professional Services Procurement Directorate, Department of Public Works and Government Services
If I signed a task authorization, I would have verified it against the contract to ensure that it was issued under a specific awarded contract.
I would have to see the task authorizations you are referring to. If you presented those to me, I would be happy to come back with that information for you.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Yes. If you could table that with the committee, and you're willing to, it would be appreciated.
I think I have the permission of the committee to ask the witness to produce those within three weeks.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Great.
Second, does the prime contract cited in these task authorizations exist? If so, can you provide it to this committee and tell us why it isn't publicly disclosed?
Manager, Professional Services Procurement Directorate, Department of Public Works and Government Services
If you provide me the task authorizations, I can certainly make that reference.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
I cited those numbers. I'm hoping you can table those numbers I cited. Is that agreed?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Yes. The clerk will follow up with what you have cited in the blues and get it to Ms. Durigan.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Can you also table Ritika Dutt's and Amir Morv's consent to be named in the task authorization? Can you table those documents?
Manager, Professional Services Procurement Directorate, Department of Public Works and Government Services
I'm sorry. Can you repeat the question and reaffirm exactly what you're looking for?
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
It's to table Ritika Dutt's and Amir Morv's consent to be named in the task authorization. It's the certification of personnel.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Chair, with respect to the certification of personnel, whether they are actually requested is optional. In this case here, we would have to go back to the CBSA to see whether or not they actually requested those documents.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
I'd like permission from the committee to have those documents tabled with the committee.
Regarding indigenous set-asides, I previously told this committee how much I—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
May I interrupt for a second, Mr. Johns? I'll pause your time.
Is this a request from the committee for an order of production of documents, or a regular—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Were you asking to have that from Ms. Durigan or from Mr. Mills, or just from—
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
It's from Mr. Mills. He can make the request to CBSA and provide them to the committee.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
I previously told this committee how much I value the procurement strategy for indigenous business—I think we all should—and how critical it is to have indigenous leadership and involvement in procurement. It's something New Democrats have been fighting hard for, especially in procurement opportunities that directly affect indigenous communities.
I want to make sure of what's happening with these set-asides, but from what I've heard, it doesn't seem like it is how it's supposed to be. PSPC's roles for the program are, rightly, set up to make sure that work doesn't simply get subcontracted to non-indigenous entities, but when I asked Dalian about how they subcontract indigenous set-aside contracts, I was appalled by their answers. They did not acknowledge the requirements for subcontractors to be indigenous.
In fact, Mr. Yeo said the rules allow them to “hire pretty much whoever we want”. He also told us that the indigenous set-aside requirements are audited on every joint venture Dalian and Coradix do. Is it true that this is being audited on every joint venture they do? Is it true that Indigenous Services Canada has audited the Botler work in particular, as Mr. Yeo claimed?
Conservative
Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services
It's a quick answer, Mr. Chair.
You'd have to direct that question to Indigenous Services Canada, which administers that program.
Conservative
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Ms. Chan, does PSPC have its own legal department?
Supply Specialist, Professional Services Procurement Directorate, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.
We consult with legal at Justice Canada.