Federal departments have spent over $15 million since 2018 on private firms to investigate their own employees, according to data tabled in the House of Commons.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) spent the most on investigations, at $3.9 million, but the department said the search was done manually and could be incomplete.
Conservative MP Mike Lake requested the information in a written question submitted to the government and a response was tabled on Jan. 30 in an Inquiry of Ministry.
The document was first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter and reviewed by The Epoch Times.
Lake sought information on the providers, the reasons staff were being investigated, and the results of the investigations.
130 Cases Investigated
The investigations launched by ESDC pertained to harassment and violence in the workplace.Out of roughly 130 investigated cases, allegations were deemed to be founded in 55 instances. Some of the investigations were noted to be still in progress or had been cancelled.
Not all investigations were harassment-related, with the Department of Finance reporting a security investigation and the Royal Canadian Mint having looked into an abuse of sick leave benefits.
The Department of Justice stated it hired a firm for “surveillance services.”
“The investigation was not successful and no information was collected,” the department wrote.
The Laurentian Pilotage Agency, a Crown corporation involved in navigation safety, spent $1040.52 for social media research to look into “unexcused sickness absence.”
“Absence for false reasons and lies on several occasions to justify the absence, which lead to dismissal,” indicates the findings of the investigation.
Public Safety Canada reported multiple investigations into harassment, one into violence, one specifically on sexual harassment, and another on misconduct.
Agencies under the portfolio also made their own reports, with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) saying it had not hired private investigators.
CBSA was contacted about the claim and a spokesperson said the agency has indeed hired private investigators to look into allegations of workplace harassment and discrimination.
The previous reporting to the contrary was due to using the definition of “private investigators” from the National Occupational Classification, the spokesperson said.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service said it does not generally disclose expenditures outside formal regular mechanisms.
Big spenders on investigation services were the Department of National Defence at $3.5 million, with most related to cases of harassment.
The Canadian Revenue Agency spent a total of $1.8 million on 91 separate contracts for “Harassment and Workplace Violence Investigation Services.”
The Privy Council Office spent $706,643 on investigators in relation to “conflict management and workplace safety.”
Export Development Canada spent $1 million for investigations and Parks Canada $654,568. Many other departments and agencies hired investigators, with total contracting amounts from $949 to $420,000.
