The Department of Public Works is promising to disclose what it did to verify the credibility of federal COVID-19 suppliers. Records show that rushed contracting for medical supplies along with theft cost Canadian taxpayers over $106 million, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
“While the department established processes at the outset of the pandemic aimed at ensuring oversight and due diligence, the department recognizes procurement processes can always be improved,” staff wrote in documents submitted to the House of Commons public accounts committee, Blacklock’s reported.
“In the context of advance payments this includes undertaking financial checks such as validating suppliers’ financial capability in an emergency situation.” The public accounts committee had requested a formal report from the Public Works Department “explaining how its internal processes for conducting checks verify the financial strength of suppliers before awarding contracts that involve advance payments,” to be submitted by Sept. 30. The department said it would comply.