The impacts of the federal Accountability Act are general in nature and therefore could apply to both the Department of National Defence, the Department of Health or the Department of Foreign Affairs.
As for the guidelines or significant changes that have an effect on my department and suppliers, there are two aspects: the creation of a procurement ombudsman position and the drafting of a procurement code.
Currently, this code is online and is open to a comment period until March 7 on the MERX system. This is an online procurement system, a little bit like an eBay for the state, in order to purchase goods and services. This is a code that will govern contractual and other types of relationships between the suppliers and the state. It will establish the guidelines enabling us to do business together, namely the state and its suppliers.
As for the procurement ombudsman, this is a position that also was created by the statute. This individual will be called upon to advise the minister and also to receive complaints. These will not be complaints made by individuals because most they have lost a contract, because of these items can be dealt with through a court, either the Federal Court or the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, the CITT. The ombudsman may also receive complaints from people who may have been awarded a contract, but feel that the department has not treated them properly, that the promised payment for compensation has not been made. As I said earlier, the ombudsman will also advise the minister on ways to improve the procurement system in general.
Those are, Mr. Blaney, the two main changes or improvements introduced by the Federal Accountability Act that will deal with procurement in general.