Tory MP to Table Motion Amending Blacklist Code of Eligible Federal Contractors

Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie rises during Question Period in the House of Commons Tuesday March 9, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie has served notice that she will table a motion in a House of Commons committee proposing that changes be made to the “Government-Wide Integrity Regime” setting new standards for a blacklist of federal contractors.

Kusie read the text of her motion on May 29 to the Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) but informed the committee that she would officially move it at a later date, as first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter.

Her motion proposes that OGGO send a report to the House calling on the Liberal government to reform Canada’s “integrity regime associated with procurement in order to exclude companies that have shown reckless disregard for the health and wellbeing of Canadians, as well as for human rights and the rule of law.”

Kusie said she will be moving her motion in light of the federal government’s recent confirmation that it would be joining the B.C. government in a proposed class-action lawsuit—if it is certified—against McKinsey and Co., that accuses the consulting firm of “false, reckless, and deceptive marketing campaigns” aimed at boosting opioid sales.

McKinsey and Co. has received over $100 million worth of federal contracts from the Liberal government since 2015.

Health Canada previously told The Epoch Times that the class-action lawsuit’s certification process is scheduled to occur in winter 2024 and said the federal government would be joining it as a “class member” should it be certified.

“The Government of Canada wants all governments to be able to recover health care costs from any companies that acted inappropriately in the marketing and distribution of opioids,” a Health Canada spokesperson said on May 19.

McKinsey has previously denied the allegations in court documents filed in February, saying it is “not a manufacturer or distributor of opioids.”

Integrity Regime Motion

In reading her motion notice to the committee, Kusie said the current federal integrity regime does not take human rights into account when awarding contracts. At that time, Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek was present as a witness.

“What the current integrity regime does exclude is human rights, the rule of law, and reckless disregard for the health and wellbeing of Canadians,” Kusie said.

“Given the moral and ethical breaches of this organization [McKinsey], it’s astounding to me actually that McKinsey passed the integrity regime.”

Jaczek said in response that the federal government is “actively reviewing” the integrity regime.

“We’re looking at it both for areas where perhaps it’s too stringent and areas where it’s two lax,” she said.

“We are clearly abiding by the current integrity regime,” Jaczek added. “The questions that you’re asking, the discussion at this committee, is all input that we value and I can assure you that we are taking the issue of the integrity regime very, very carefully.”