An unimaginable statement is enough. The fraud, uncovered last Wednesday by Ottawa, revealed that three consultants from the technology sector worked on the same files in the same hours for 36 federal departments and agencies.
This $5 million fraud highlights flaws in the government's procurement system and blind spots in the contracting process.
In an interview on the show Behind the scenes of powerMinister Jean-Yves Duclos emphasized that it was a A small part of external agreements
Government is targeted by this fraud. About ten other cases are already under the purview of its authorities.
They are [les citoyens] It's okay to be surprised. We are all shocked and angry. We wish these cases didn't exist, but unfortunately they do, because that's how human nature works.
Internal investigations into these fraud allegations began several years ago. Although the Ministry of Public Services and Procurement was involved, they had nothing to do with Auditor General Karen Hogan's damning report into the management of external contracts related to the design of the ArriveCan app.
If Jean-Yves Duclos' announcement sounds like a public relations or crisis management exercise, Denise Saint-Martin, professor and specialist in public administration, believes research Good publicity stunt
And A Good public policy
are not incompatible.
Well if it sounds like a witch hunt, it should be. It must be race […] Let us know that everyone who is in the habit of breaking the rules has a sword of Damocles above them [de leur tête]. It's not bad in times of crisis.
The results of internal investigations into the three consultants involved in this five million fraud, whose security clearances were suspended, have been transferred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The federal government has also taken steps to recover overpaid amounts.
A drop of water in an ocean of agreements
Public Services and Procurement Canada's (PSPC) announced last week's take, representing three transactions worth five million dollars of the $35 billion worth of 400,000 contracts awarded in 2023, may seem modest.
Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement
Photo: Radio-Canada
However, Minister Duclos refused to exaggerate its scope. No, we don't do that much. Whatever you do […] Find them all. It takes a lot of work, but it's essential […] Faith of Canadians.
However, he admits that generalizations must be avoided; The situation does not affect all companies that do business with Ottawa.
These are the bad apples among the big apples. We must refrain from believing that the whole basket is rotten.
The fact that 36 ministries were affected by the fraud underlines the firmness of the ministries that are still functioning. In silos
, Judge Denis Saint-Martin. According to him, it ultimately needs to be worked out.
The professor also emphasized the importance of accountability mechanisms to avoid falling into the trap black hole
responsibility
Artificial intelligence on the heels of fraudsters
It is intersected by a laid telephone line PSPC On the trail of fraudsters. Then, advanced data analysis techniques allowed him to observe that three consultants invoiced the same hours of work to several ministries.
Artificial intelligence is one of the new tools available to researchers. Without it, compiling, reconciling and analyzing data related to hundreds of thousands of federal contracts would be difficult – even impossible.
According to Professor Saint-Martin, if artificial intelligence is a tool, it will have a negative effect.
Algorithms help officials looking for clues, but also help contractors evade regulations.
Keep an eye on suppliers
Other tools the ministry relies on to keep tabs on suppliers include the Office of Supplier Integrity and Compliance (BICF). It will be released next May.
The mission of BICF And its future employees: Ensure that the federal government does not do business with suppliers that exhibit conduct. To do this, the office has the ability to detect fraud and wrongdoing related to federal procurement.
According to the information provided during the technical briefing, in the absence of prosecution or indictment, measures may be taken such as suspension or deregistration of the supplier and cooperation with other territories such as Quebec or the United States.
If the epidemic is caused by a electric shock
It accelerated the digital efforts of the public administration, according to Denis Saint-Martin, above all the episode put the public service to the test in an emergency. Good public administration and the concept of emergency are incompatible
He adds.
However, the professor sees an opportunity The pendulum is back
Almost systematic external subcontracting – a way of doing things dating back to the 1990s – is gradually being replaced by more work from internal civil servants.
Nobody likes bureaucracy. Then, when such scandals occur, it is surely easy to blame the bad authorities.
Denis Saint-Martin declared.
He adds: These are tough times, but some would say that these are the golden files and opportunities to work really hard
.
An interview with Minister Duclos will be broadcast Behind the scenes of power At 11 pm, Sunday, here RDI And here is TELE.
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