Howdy,
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government’s strategy to constructing and sustaining the ArriveCan app by means of contracts and subcontracts tied to a two-person staffing agency is “extremely illogical” and he has requested for a evaluation by the Clerk of the Privy Council.
The Globe and Mail reported Monday that GCstrategies – the 2 individual Ottawa-area staffing firm that has acquired hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in federal commissions on IT initiatives – subcontracted its work on the ArriveCan app to 6 different firms, together with multinationals resembling BDO and KPMG.
At a information convention in Toronto, Mr. Trudeau was requested why the federal authorities can’t rent these firms straight or carry out IT work in-house, slightly than paying hundreds of thousands in commissions to the small staffing firm.
“That’s precisely the query that I simply requested of the general public service,” Mr. Trudeau replied. “Clearly, this can be a apply that appears extremely illogical and inefficient. And I’ve made certain that the Clerk of the Privy Council is wanting into procurement practices to make it possible for we’re getting worth for cash and that we’re doing issues in a wise and logical method. After all, in the course of the pandemic, velocity was at an essence, serving to individuals shortly was at an essence. However there are ideas that we must always ensure are sound shifting ahead.”
Deputy Ottawa bureau chief Invoice Curry studies right here.
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TODAY’S HEADLINES
QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT CANADA’S AI APPROACH – Canada has main AI consultants. However does Ottawa have the fitting plan to assist an AI trade? Many leaders in Canada’s innovation sector say the federal government’s technique to construct on the nation’s early lead in AI is emblematic of how Ottawa routinely fails to leverage the nation’s brains to supply financial progress. Story right here.
INTEREST RATE HIKE COMING FROM BANK OF CANADA – The Financial institution of Canada is broadly anticipated to ship a last quarter-point rate of interest improve on Wednesday earlier than pausing its historic financial coverage tightening cycle. Story right here.
NO E-MAIL CONTACT BETWEEN ALBERTA PREMIER’S STAFF AND CROWN: INVESTIGATION – The Alberta authorities couldn’t discover “proof of e-mail contact” between any member of Premier Danielle Smith’s employees and the province’s Crown prosecution service, after a weekend investigation sparked by an allegation somebody in her workplace tried to steer officers to rethink circumstances tied to a border blockade. Story right here.
LIBERAL CABINET RETREAT UNDERWAY IN HAMILTON – The persevering with affordability crunch and the specter of a looming recession can be entrance and centre because the federal Liberal cupboard holds a post-holiday cupboard retreat this week. Story right here.
SCHOLARS SEEK INDEPENDENT SPORT INQUIRY – Dozens of Canadian and international sport students, in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, have joined the refrain in calling for an unbiased inquiry into sport in Canada, saying Canadian athletes deserve higher. Story right here.
ALMOST $100M SPENT ON HOTELS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS – The federal authorities has spent virtually $94-million because the final election reserving total accommodations for months to accommodate an inflow of asylum seekers coming into Canada, in keeping with an access-to-information request. Story right here.
OTTAWA REACHES $2.8B DEAL ON RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS SUIT – The federal authorities says it has come to a $2.8-billion settlement to settle a class-action lawsuit introduced by two British Columbia First Nations associated to the collective harms attributable to residential faculties. Story right here.
LEGAULT CRITICIZES TRUDEAU – Quebec Premier François Legault is criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for “attacking Quebec’s democracy and folks” by proposing to restrict the usage of the however clause. Story right here.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK SPENDING UNDER SCRUTINY – Multimillion-dollar contracts awarded by the Enterprise Growth Financial institution of Canada to consulting agency McKinsey, coupled with some uncommon spending decisions — together with a call to fly a non-public chauffeur to B.C. to drive the Crown company’s president round — are elevating eyebrows inside the BDC, sources say. Story right here from CBC.
GOVERNMENT, UNION TURNING TO MEDIATION IN DISPUTE – The Treasury Board and the Public Service Alliance of Canada have agreed to mediation in a contract dispute involving 11,000 federal public servants working in technical providers. Story right here from CTV.
END NEAR FOR OTTAWA INSTITUTION – Britain’s Every day Mail newspaper studies right here on the looming finish of an establishment within the nation’s capital.
THIS AND THAT
HOUSE ON A BREAK – The Home of Commons is on a break till Jan. 30.
FEDERAL LEADERS UNITED – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, NDP Chief Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre put apart their political variations Sunday to take part in Vancouver’s Lunar New 12 months parade. There’s a photograph here. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and B.C. Premier David Eby had been additionally a part of the lineup.
MINISTERS ON THE ROAD – As members of the federal Liberal cupboard attend a retreat in Hamilton, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra was within the metropolis neighborhood of Mount Hope, with Filomena Tassi, the minister chargeable for the Federal Financial Growth Company for Southern Ontario, and Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath to make a funding announcement on the John C. Munro Hamilton Worldwide Airport. Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault, in Barrie, Ont., was scheduled to make an announcement on helps for tourism and neighborhood infrastructure for Barrie and surrounding space. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser was scheduled, in the neighborhood of Sturgeon Falls, to make a funding announcement on Canada’s Francophone Immigration Technique. Justice Minister David Lametti made an announcement in Hamilton on federal assist for susceptible youth. Pure Assets Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, in Sarnia, Ont., was scheduled to take media questions after shows from native clear expertise firms.
PRIME MINISTER’S DAY
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in Toronto, held non-public conferences and toured a quantum computing and software program firm, accompanied by Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne. Mr. Trudeau took media questions. In Hamilton, Mr. Trudeau visited an area restaurant with Filomena Tassi, the minister chargeable for the Federal Financial Growth Company for Southern Ontario, and likewise the MP for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas. He additionally attended the cupboard retreat in Hamilton.
LEADERS
Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre, in Vancouver, spoke to the AME Roundup mineral exploration convention, and held a information convention.
NDP Chief Jagmeet Singh, in Campbell River, B.C., joined by MP Rachel Blaney from North Island—Powell River, hosted a roundtable for residents on the price of dwelling, toured the Campbell River Meals Financial institution Society after which the Canadian Forces Base in Comox. Mr. Singh, with Ms. Blaney, was scheduled to satisfy with Comox Mayor Nicole Minions. Within the night, the NDP chief was scheduled to attend a meet-and-greet occasion with Gord Johns, the MP for Courtenay-Alberni.
No schedules launched for different get together leaders.
THE DECIBEL
On Monday’s version of The Globe and Mail podcast, Ottawa reporter Marsha McLeod discusses two payments now earlier than Parliament making an attempt to strike down prison code allowances for the bodily self-discipline of youngsters in sure circumstances. Ms. McLeod explains why the regulation exists, and the vocal teams who’ve fought to maintain it on the books. The Decibel is right here.
TRIBUTE
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute here to Jaspreet Pandher, an outreach adviser, who spent a number of years on his crew. “He labored exhausting, spoke thoughtfully, and at all times knew precisely learn how to make individuals snort,” Mr. Trudeau wrote in a tweet.
PUBLIC OPINION
PRIME MINISTER’S RESIDENCE – Two-thirds of Canadians surveyed by the Angus Reid Institute say latest federal governments have failed to take care of the prime minister’s residence “as a result of they’re afraid of the general public backlash.” Particulars right here.
OPINION
The Globe and Mail Editorial Board on how Vancouver is able to construct new housing in outdated no-grow zones, however the plan is just too timid: “The best coverage resolution is a giant shakeup: scrapping outdated restrictive zoning guidelines in order that many new houses of all sorts might be constructed throughout cities – shortly. This could finish interminable approval processes, resembling rezoning, the place present homeowners oppose change. The proprietor of a home doesn’t personal the neighbourhood, nor ought to they’ve a veto over what’s constructed close to their home. The buzzword is “lacking center” housing. It’s the fitting concept however its which means is a variety, from two or 4 items of housing on tons at present reserved for one- to four-storey residence buildings. Because the housing crunch has worsened, cities like Vancouver and Toronto have warmed to the missing-middle slogan – however are nonetheless overly cautious. There stays, for one instance, a deep reluctance or flat-out refusal to contemplate residence buildings with houses of two and three bedrooms for households in neighbourhoods of indifferent houses.”
Campbell Clark (The Globe and Mail) on how ArriveCan contracting wasn’t that unhealthy. It was worse: “It appeared fairly unhealthy. A column three months in the past criticized Ottawa for its dealing with of the ArriveCan app, which included paying hefty commissions to a two-person firm, GCstrategies, merely for contracting the IT individuals who truly did the work.It famous that the federal authorities has an entire division for contracting and its personal IT items, but issued $44-million in contracts over two years to GCstrategies to usher in the individuals to do IT work on ArriveCan and different initiatives.However it now seems that was flawed: The federal government didn’t pay GCstrategies to usher in the IT staff. They paid them to pay different firms to usher in the IT staff.”
Lloyd Axworthy and Allan Rock (Contributed to The Globe and Mail) on how looking for asylum is a human proper so why are we treating it as the other: “Canadians should not be smug or complacent about our personal response to pressured migration. We deserve credit score for our distinctive neighborhood sponsorship of refugees, and we take satisfaction in our repute as a rustic that respects human rights. However we are inclined to overlook severe points ensuing from our personal insurance policies. As documented by Human Rights Watch, 1000’s of migrants and asylum seekers have been detained by the Canada Border Providers Company (CBSA) lately, typically in abusive circumstances and generally in provincial jails. Many are held in immigration detention for prolonged durations – with out having dedicated any crime – whereas awaiting the dedication of their authorized standing. The numerous deaths which have occurred in detention, like that of Abdurahman Hassan, whose coroner’s inquest is ongoing in Ontario, illustrate the desperation and struggling migrants and asylum seekers typically endure. Simply final month, on Christmas Day, one other individual died in immigration detention in Surrey, B.C.”
Jen Gerson (Contributed to The Globe and Mail) on how the `Simply Transition’ fracas is simply noise for now: “However once I truly appeared into the plans for the “Simply Transition” laws, I didn’t see something price getting significantly labored up about – not less than not but. All I see is one other small-scale boondoggle within the making: a garden-variety bundle of federal incompetence that’s extra prone to waste money on feel-good packages than successfully shut down the oil and fuel sector.”
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