Treasury Board

Government misconduct 'outrageous' in rigged bidding: judge

Topics: 
Procurement process, Corruption, Government ethics, Public Works, Treasury Board
Rating: 
0

Kathryn May – May 07, 2013

An Ontario Superior Court judge awarded an additional $10 million in lost profits, interest and costs to the losing bidder of a relocation contract, chastising the "reprehensible," "outrageous" and "shocking" misconduct of the federal government for rigging the deal and trying to deceive the court.

In a hard-hitting decision, Justice Peter Annis took the extraordinary step of awarding Envoy Relocation Services full costs in its legal battle to prove bureaucrats intentionally turned a blind eye to the rigging of the 2004 contract, which helped give Royal LePage Relocation Services a monopoly on moving thousands of military, RCMP and bureaucrats to new postings.

Government whistleblowers worried by delay in review of the law

Topics: 
Treasury Board, PSDPA, Legislation
Rating: 
5
 

Paul Gaboury – 23 May 23, 2012

More than a month after the deadline specified in the law, Ottawa has not yet announced when it will begin the process of reviewing the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (PSDPA). This is of great concern to groups defending the rights of whistleblowers, who fear that the government may bypass the process to avoid a real discussion.

“After years of inaction and a spectacular false start, Canada is now decades behind countries like the USA, the UK and Australia. It is essential to consult with experts from these countries, which unlike Canada have considerable experience with effective laws, and have carried out excellent in-depth research” said David Hutton, executive director of Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR).

Crown settles suit for malicious prosecution

Topics: 
Reprisals, Treasury Board, Justice Department, RCMP, Canada Revenue Agency
Rating: 
3
Sylvain Parent

James Bagnall – February 13, 2012

Ottawa actuary Sylvain Parent has at last settled with the federal government, nearly eight years after launching his suit for malicious prosecution. The epic legal war ended, as these things often do, with a behind-the scenes deal whose terms are confidential.

Nevertheless, it's probably safe to assume Parent has recouped his considerable legal expenses, as well as costs related to third-party claims. Make that several million dollars at a minimum.

Funding woes may sink salmon research program

Topics: 
Treasury Board, Food industry, Fisheries
Rating: 
4

Gordon Hoekstra – August 25, 2011

A research program led by geneticist Kristi Miller which recently discovered a new virus that could be a factor in declining Fraser River sockeye has no funding to continue its work, the Cohen Commission heard Thursday.

That’s because proposals put forward by Miller’s lab and other Department of Fisheries and Oceans programs have not been approved yet by the federal Treasury Board, but also because outside funding sources used in the past have been deemed off limits, Miller, DFO head of molecular genetics, told the inquiry investigating the collapse of sockeye returns in 2009. 

MPs to question Ouimet on her $400,000 severance, gag order

Topics: 
Treasury Board, Integrity Commissioner, Privy Council Office (PCO), Public Accounts Committee, Gag orders, Christiane Ouimet
Rating: 
0

Former public sector integrity commissioner Christiane Ouimet is set to testify at Public Accounts Committee this week, after months of delays. MPs have lots of questions.

Jessica Bruno – March 7, 2011

Opposition MPs say they will question former integrity commissioner Christiane Ouimet about the circumstances surrounding her more than $400,000 severance package, and the gag order that went with it, when she appears before the House Public Accounts Committee on March 10.

“We want to get to the bottom of why she received this compensation; why did the government give her this compensation?,” said Liberal MP and committee member Navdeep Bains (Mississauga-Brampton-South, Ont.).

Disgraced integrity commission's departure package tops $500,000

Topics: 
Treasury Board, Integrity Commissioner, Privy Council Office (PCO), Gag orders, Christiane Ouimet
Rating: 
0

Amy Minsky – March 4, 2011

OTTAWA — Leaked documents detailing the conditions surrounding the departure of the government's now-disgraced public sector integrity commissioner show she is walking away with approximately $130,000 beyond the $407,000 she received in severance pay — all of which the opposition Liberals have labelled "hush money."

The additional funds, which are in addition to the severance amount Postmedia News reported earlier this week, represent 28 weeks pay for accrued and unused vacation.

Disgraced integrity czar’s $500,000 severance deal includes gag order

Topics: 
Treasury Board, Integrity Commissioner, Privy Council Office (PCO), Gag orders, Christiane Ouimet
Rating: 
0

Gloria Galloway – March 4, 2011

The former public sector integrity commissioner who resigned last fall in the face of a damning audit walked away with a half million dollars – and a promise to keep her mouth shut.

According to the departure agreement signed between Christiane Ouimet and the federal government, Ms. Ouimet received as separation allowance of $407,000. That includes 18 months of regular salary plus foregone benefits worth $53,100.

AG finds absence of conflict of interest rules

Topics: 
Treasury Board, PSDPA, Conflict of interest
Rating: 
0

Kathryn May – October 26, 2010

OTTAWA — The federal government isn't providing the backup and training to help bureaucrats avoid conflicts that can undermine Canadians' trust in government, says the auditor-general.

In her latest report, Auditor General Sheila Fraser said Treasury Board still hasn't released the new code of conduct required under whistleblower legislation that was passed more than five years ago.

Parliament duped on relocation contract: Bloc MP

Topics: 
Treasury Board, Government transparency
Rating: 
0

By Kathryn May – September 13, 2010

OTTAWA — Federal bureaucrats misled Parliament several years ago about how wrong information got in bid documents for one of the government’s most controversial contracts — the $1-billion deal that moves the military, RCMP and public servants across the country, a Bloc Québécois MP says.

Meili Faille made the accusation after Treasury Board President Stockwell Day recently revealed that a “logic model,” which bureaucrats said was used to forecast business volumes for suppliers to bid on, never actually existed.

Ombudsman says bureaucrats blocking initiatives to help vets

Topics: 
Treasury Board, Veterans Affairs, Privy Council Office (PCO), Ombudsmen
Rating: 
0

David Pugliese – July 23, 2010

Stingy federal bureaucrats, including those at Privy Council Office and Treasury Board, are blocking initiatives that could help the country's Afghan war veterans, the Veterans Ombudsman says. Retired colonel Pat Stogran said the motive appeared to be saving money.

"There's huge amounts of pushback from central agencies on anything to do with veterans in any way that might mean more money going out," Stogran said in an interview.

"Deputy ministers make more on average in one year than a person who loses two legs in Afghanistan can expect to be paid out for the rest of their life," Stogran said in his harshest words yet aimed at the federal bureaucracy.

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