QUESTION PERIOD — Public Services and Procurement
Procurement Process
November 28, 2023
Leader, in October, Senator Plett and I both received written answers to questions regarding the contracts given to Accenture to run the Canada Emergency Business Account, or CEBA, loans program for small businesses. The answer states Export Development Canada implemented a disclosure process for contracts in December 2021 after Accenture was awarded the contract for CEBA. One of the answers shows that the Trudeau government entered into multiple contracts with Accenture after December 2021, yet these were never proactively disclosed. This includes four contracts from January and February of this year worth a combined $60 million. Leader, what good is a disclosure process that keeps contracts like these hidden from Canadians?
Thank you for your question. It’s my understanding that those contracts that were disclosed are those that can be disclosed under the terms of the contracts and whatever confidentiality requirements are at play. The government will continue to act responsibly in that regard.
Leader, I specifically asked you when Minister Freeland and Minister Ng became aware of Accenture’s involvement in the CEBA program. The answer I received did not even come close to answering my question. Leader, if access to information, transparency and accountability mean anything to your government, will you go back and ask them to answer my specific question: When did the ministers know?
Thank you for your question. When senators ask questions to which I don’t have the answers, I make every effort to get the answers. I’m glad that you received an answer but disappointed that it was not to your satisfaction. I will continue to do my best to get answers from the government to the questions senators ask.
