March 18, 2021, Ottawa, Ontario, Today, Michael Barrett, Conservative Shadow Minister for Ethics, and Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Services and Procurement, called on the Government of Canada to release all details and information related to a $150 million sole-source contract for mobile health units built by SNC-Lavalin.

Following news that the federal government awarded this contract, limited details have been provided about delivery dates, deployment or provincial/territorial demand.

“There are legitimate questions about the merits of this contract, especially given its value and the nature of sole-sourcing procurements,” said Barrett. “Canadians believe governments should operate openly and transparently, and given SNC-Lavalin’s legal history, questions must be answered to assure taxpayers that their money is being spent appropriately.”

To reassure Canadians, the Government of Canada must provide answers to the following questions:

• Why was this contract sole-sourced?
• Was SNC-Lavalin the only company that could deliver the mobile health units?
• When will the project be complete?
• When will the units be deployed to assist Canadians?
• Which provinces or territories requested the units?
• Does the government anticipate a future need if the vaccine program accelerates?

“Government must always demonstrate due diligence when awarding taxpayer funded contracts. Canadians rightly deserve answers about this contract, including assurances that all rules were followed, and that this isn’t simply another example of taxpayer money being misappropriated by the government,” concluded Paul-Hus.

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For more information:

Office of Michael Barrett, M.P.
Mey.Fung.450@parl.gc.ca
613-992-8756

Office of Pierre Paul-Hus, M.P.
Joel.Bernard.319@parl.gc.ca
613-222-5613