2022 Minister’s Transition Book 2: Welcome letter

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August 31, 2022

Dear Minister Jaczek,

Congratulations on your appointment as Minister and Receiver General of Canada. On behalf of all departmental staff, I would like to offer you a very warm welcome. We look forward to working with you to implement the government's agenda and to supporting you as you assume your new responsibilities.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is one of the oldest federal departments. Established in 1841, it was instrumental in building the Houses of Parliament; Canada's roads, bridges and canals; post offices and federal buildings across the country. Today, the department continues to play an essential role in government operations. With over 17,000 employees nationwide and an annual gross budget of approximately $8.9 billion per year, PSPC will play a central part in achieving the government's agenda and provides critical services to other government departments and agencies in support of their mandates.

Major procurements under your responsibility include complex defence and marine projects such as the National Shipbuilding Strategy and the replacement of Canada's fighter jet fleet. PSPC has also played a central role in pandemic response by procuring a broad range of services and goods, including vaccine doses for every eligible Canadian, rapid tests and personal protective equipment. This work will continue for the foreseeable future.

You are responsible for providing office space for public servants and parliamentarians, which affords the opportunity to ensure that government facilities are right-sized for the future, green, accessible and efficient. Furthermore, you are responsible for managing a wide range of assets across the country, including bridges, laboratories, docks and dams, as well as enhancing and preserving the cultural heritage of buildings and monuments throughout Canada. In particular, the rehabilitation of the Parliamentary Precinct will continue to advance under your authority.

As the Receiver General for Canada, you are responsible for the overall collection, reconciliation and reporting of government monies and for issuing all Government of Canada payments. While the minister of Finance is responsible for managing the funds of the government, the Receiver General disburses these funds. For example, to date the department has administered approximately $5.1 billion^{Footnote 1} in contracts to support Canada's COVID-19 response. In addition, you oversee Government of Canada pay and pension administration.

Your core responsibilities also include translation and interpretation services provided to government departments and Parliament. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Translation Bureau provided important support to enable virtual parliamentary operations. You are also responsible for a number of crown corporations, which operate at arms length, but report to Parliament through you.

The work of the department is broad and often complex, and these are only a few examples of your new responsibilities. To support you, we have dedicated units that ensure you are prepared for Parliamentary activities and Cabinet meetings. Similarly, our departmental communications team is available to assist you with a broad range of services, including speech writing, media relations, and strategic planning.

As we have already discussed briefly, we have a charged agenda ahead of us this fall with many active files. There are a number of important milestones on key military and defence procurements; a need to revisit resourcing for pay centre operations to address increased intake and a persistent backlog; and an opportunity to rethink the in Budget 2022. We will also continue to support other government departments in delivering on their key files such as Canada's Dental Plan and supporting the government with ongoing COVID-19 procurements. In addition, we have significant opportunities to support government-wide priorities such as greening government, indigenous reconciliation, advancing diversity and inclusion through supplier diversity, and eradicating forced labour from the Canadian supply chain. We will also work closely with the National Capital Commission on the future of the official residences portfolio and with Canada Post on addressing financial pressures and aligning with government priorities.

Our goal is to build a close, productive working relationship with you and your office. We will make available regular opportunities to discuss your priorities and needs, as well as briefing sessions on departmental business. Among the first things you may wish to discuss are the key files of the department and important decisions required over the coming months.

We will organize more detailed departmental briefings on many of these topics, based on your preferences on timing and pacing. Once again, welcome to the department. Our management teams are here to serve, and we look forward to working with you.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Thompson

Overview of Public Services and Procurement Canada

The department at a glance

Public Services and Procurement Canada’s vision is to excel in government operations. The department’s strategic outcome and mission is to deliver high-quality, central programs and services that ensure sound stewardship on behalf of Canadians and meet the program needs of federal institutions. PSPC serves federal departments and agencies as their central purchasing agent, linguistic authority, real property manager, treasurer, accountant, and pay and pension administrator. To fulfill this mandate, PSPC has nearly 17,400 employees and an annual gross budget of approximately $8.8 billion, of which approximately $4.6 billion is appropriated by Parliament and approximately $4.2 billion is revenue. With offices in the National Capital Region and across the country, the department achieves its mission and vision by conducting business under the following 4 core responsibilities and a range of internal services:

• purchase of goods and services
• payments and accounting
• property and infrastructure
• government-wide support

Purchase of goods and services

Government of Canada annual procurement amounts to approximately $35 billion. The department:

• handles $25 billion (more than 23,000 transactions) of procurements annually on behalf of client departments, including approximately $20 billion awarded to suppliers in Canada
• leads major defence and marine procurements for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Coast Guard
• conducts outreach to small businesses and other vendors interested in becoming government suppliers, with a specific focus on underrepresented groups, including Black-, women-, and Indigenous-owned businesses
• purchases vaccines and other supplies to respond to COVID-19

PSPC provides expert advice, guidance and support in:

• identifying the goods or services to be procured
• selecting the most effective procurement approach
• considering socio-economic factors
• developing appropriate evaluation criteria
• calling for, receiving, and evaluating bids
• developing procurement instruments, such as standing offers and supply arrangements
• negotiating and administering contracts
• contract security
• ethical business practices

Payments and accounting

PSPC collects revenues and issues payments, maintains the financial accounts of Canada, issues government-wide financial reports, and administers payroll and pension services across the Government of Canada.

On public service pay (Phoenix), the department has reduced the backlog of pay transactions to ensure that public servants are paid accurately and on time. While work is underway to develop a new pay system, PSPC continues working with departments and agencies to reduce intake, increase case processing capacity and productivity, and further stabilize pay administration through technology enhancements to the existing pay system.

The department:

• issued over 440 million payments in fiscal year 2020 to 2021, including $126 million COVID-19 related payments, to Canadians and businesses
• handles over $3.5 trillion in cash flow transactions each year
• provides pension services to over 908,000 active and retired members of 8 public sector pension plans and administers over 5.0 million pension payments totalling $14.0 billion annually
• makes payments in lieu of taxes, on behalf of departments and agencies, toward the cost of local government in communities where it owns real property (for example office buildings, harbours, national parks)

Property and infrastructure

PSPC provides federal departments and agencies with office accommodation to over 267,000 federal employees in 1,521 Crown-owned and leased locations across Canada. Given the extensive use of remote work introduced due to COVID-19, the department is reviewing its space requirements and modernizing office environments to support more flexible use.

The department also maintains various assets including:

• the Parliamentary Precinct: stewardship, rehabilitation and modernization of 37 Crown-owned buildings and associated lands. Current work is focused on Centre Block and redevelopment of block 2, as well as the Indigenous Peoples’ Space at 100 Wellington
• federal laboratories: the revitalization of federal laboratories across Canada to support world-class science
• engineering assets: building, maintaining and managing infrastructure, including roads, bridges and dams across the country, as well as heating and cooling plants in the National Capital Region (NCR)

PSPC also provides contaminated site clean-up and environmental remediation, property appraisal/valuation services and engineering expertise to other government departments to help manage their assets.

Government-wide support

PSPC offers services to federal institutions and Canadians as the government’s linguistic authority and common service provider:

• PSPC’s Translation Bureau provides translation and interpretation services for government and parliamentarians
• the Translation Bureau is also working to provide quality remote interpretation services, maintain capacity to support Indigenous languages, and offer sign languages interpretation
• PSPC administers the government-wide integrity regime for procurement and real property transactions, which may prevent unethical suppliers from receiving Government of Canada contracts
• PSPC also manages government information services to support the delivery of media monitoring and analysis, and public opinion research and advertising contracting
• PSPC is responsible for GCSurplus and the seized property management programs for sale and divestiture of surplus assets and seized assets, respectively
• the department also processes security screenings for contractors and sub-contractors requiring access to protected

Internal services

PSPC operations are supported by a range of corporate services, including:

• human resources management
• finance management
• information management / information technology
• communications^{Footnote 2}
• media relations
• speechwriting and events
• social media
• strategic communications
• proactive communications
• cabinet and parliamentary affairs^{Footnote 2}
• committee support
• question period notes

COVID-19 related measures

• During the pandemic, PSPC procured a broad range of services and goods, notably more than 2.5B pieces of personal protective equipment, over 700M rapid tests and enough vaccine doses for every eligible Canadian
• The Receiver General function has played a key role in ensuring that Canadians receive government payments quickly and efficiently. In 2020 to 2021, 126M COVID-19 related payments were issued to Canadians and businesses, of which 89% were issued electronically
• The Translation Bureau provided increased volumes of translations, and interpreters have supported the new virtual parliamentary context
• In partnership with key federal and provincial partners, PSPC developed guidance and management protocols to keep federal work environments safe and productive

Number of Public Services and Procurement Canada employees

Located in 5 geographic regions across Canada and in the NCR:

• Pacific: 598
• Western: 690
• Ontario: 680
• Quebec: 1485
• Atlantic: 3010
• National Capital Region: 10,920

Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio organizations

Crown corporations

Canada Post Corporation

• Canada Post Corporation Act mandates the establishment and operation of a postal service that meets the needs of Canadians and that conducts operations on a financially self-sustaining basis
• More than $10 billion in revenues annually
• Exclusive privilege to collect, transmit and deliver letters up to 500g within Canada

Canada Lands Company Limited

• Holds, develops and disposes of Government of Canada real property
• It is a shell parent Crown corporation with 3 operational subsidiaries:
  • Canada Lands Company (CLC) Limited
  • Parc Downsview Park
  • Old Port of Montreal Corporation

Defence Construction Canada

• Provides infrastructure and environmental services for defence projects
• Carries out a wide range of procurement, disposal, construction, operation, maintenance and professional activities required to support the defence of Canada, with its primary clients being the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces

National Capital Commission

• Responsible for acting as the long-term planner, principle steward and a partner in the development, conservation and improvement of Canada’s National Capital Region
• Region’s largest landowner and owns 11% of all lands in the National Capital Region, which includes 6 official residences, National Capital Region interprovincial crossings and LeBreton Flats, among others

Adjudicative, regulatory and oversight bodies

• Office of the Procurement Ombudsman
• Payments in Lieu of Taxes Dispute Advisory Panel
• Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board

Departmental plan summary

Background

The departmental plan is a mechanism of ministerial accountability, communicating departmental expenditure plans for the next 3 years, as well as an organization’s priorities, resource requirements and expected results. The plan is tabled annually in Parliament and published for all Canadians.

Status

The 2022 to 2023 Departmental Plan for Public Services and Procurement Canada was tabled in Parliament on March 2, 2022.

Priority 2022 to 2023 activities

The activities identified below summarize the department’s key plans, which are aligned by core responsibility.

Purchase of goods and services

• Support the Government of Canada's response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the procurement of critical goods and services
• Advance the implementation of procurement modernization initiatives, including the electronic procurement solution, contract modernization, vendor performance management regime and a new tendering service on CanadaBuys to better serve clients and suppliers
• Continue to advance government-wide initiatives to increase the diversity of bidders on government contracts, including through the development of a program on social procurement
• Increase Indigenous participation by implementing new approaches to awarding contracts to Indigenous-led or -owned businesses, and also by incorporating Indigenous participation plans into procurements
• Advance efforts, as part of a whole-of-government approach, to eradicate forced labour from Canadian supply chains and ensure Canadian businesses operating abroad do not contribute to human rights abuses
• Prioritize efforts to advance green procurement, including a focus on reusable and recyclable products in federal procurement processes in support of the Government of Canada's goal of zero plastic waste
• Deliver on key procurements in support of Canada's defence policy: Strong, Secure, Engaged, including awarding a contract to replace the CF-18 fighter aircraft fleet
• Work with other government departments and industry to implement the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), which is renewing Canada's federal fleet of combat and non-combat vessels, providing economic benefits to Canadians and rebuilding our country's shipbuilding industry

Payments and accounting

• Make progress towards resolving outstanding pay issues for public servants through approved projects and initiatives, and strive to improve service standard compliance for incoming pay transactions
• Deliver high quality, client-centric services by meeting service delivery goals, ensuring the ongoing integrity of pension data, and expanding digital service capabilities, so that more than 935,000 active and retired members of pension plans administered by PSPC can readily access pension information, and receive timely and accurate pension payments

Property and infrastructure

• Advance sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and greening government initiatives for PSPC real property and infrastructure assets by integrating sustainable development, the use of clean electricity, energy reduction, and greenhouse gas reduction into the decision-making, planning and delivery of real property projects
• Advance the definition of the post-pandemic work environment in terms of workforce, workplace and organization of work
• Continue implementing the Laboratories Canada Strategy which seeks to provide federal scientists with leading-edge, collaborative, accessible, and sustainable science and technology facilities
• Advance the rehabilitation of the Parliamentary Precinct through the Long Term Vision and Plan
• Continue to improve crossings in the National Capital Region and advance the assessments and planning associated with a sixth crossing to ensure the health and safety of users and to further decrease greenhouse gas emissions

Government-wide support

• Adapt to the rapid pace of digital transformation in linguistic services, by experimenting with artificial intelligence and collaborating with other government departments and agencies to increase remote interpretation for official, Indigenous and foreign languages, and video remote interpretation for sign languages
• Enhance and evolve government-wide services and solutions by providing agile and digitally enabled environments such as the cloud, increasing information processing capacity and integrating modern tools that enable and support Government of Canada's business needs
• Improve the Contract Security Program and the Controlled Goods Program to respond to an evolving external threat environment, and develop a more client-focused delivery approach to safeguard sensitive and strategic government information and assets accessed by the private sector
• Explore the development of better tools to support enhanced due diligence of suppliers in order to further protect the integrity of the federal procurement system

Procurement Ombudsman

• Review the procurement practices of federal organizations to promote fairness, openness and transparency
• Review complaints from Canadian suppliers and make recommendations for compensation where appropriate
• Provide alternative dispute resolution services which offer an opportunity for suppliers and federal organizations to come together in a neutral setting with the purpose of finding solutions, preserving business relationships and avoiding costly litigation
• Share procurement-related information amongst federal organizations and Canadian suppliers to promote simplification and transparency in the federal procurement process

Key financial information

Budgetary planning information is as follows, for core responsibilities and internal services combined:

• 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates: $4,639,613,147
• 2023 to 2024 planned spending: $3,575,549,968, 2024 to 2025 planned spending: $3,542,432,854

Hot issues

National shipbuilding strategy

Third shipyard selection process

In December 2019, the government announced its intention to add a third Canadian shipyard as a strategic partner under the National Shipbuilding Strategy to build icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). Following an invitation to qualify (ITQ) process, Chantier Davie of Lévis, Quebec, was the only shipyard that moved to the request for proposal (RFP) and evaluation stage of the process. 

On June 8, 2022, the Government of Canada announced that it will begin negotiations with Chantier Davie towards an umbrella agreement to become the third strategic partner under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Pending successful negotiations, an agreement is expected to be in place by the end of 2022.

Communications implications

The role of Chantier Davie in the National Shipbuilding Strategy has garnered significant media interest within Quebec and nationally, since the inception of the NSS in 2012.

Increasing budgets and project delays

Over the past 10 years, the National Shipbuilding Strategy has experienced ongoing project delays and budget increases. This is due to the fact that original budgets for large vessel construction projects were set many years ago and were guided by limited experience and projections. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has further impacted budgets and timelines. The Government of Canada continues to work closely with shipyards and industry to address ongoing challenges, including costs, estimated timelines and productivity.

Communications implications

This topic is covered regularly by national media and defence experts. The main criticisms are that the projects are all delayed and cost increases are out of control. The Department of National Defence and CCG lead on answering questions related project budgets and requirements.

Defence procurement

Future fighter capability project

In June 2017, Canada’s defence policy confirmed a fleet size of 88 advanced fighter aircrafts to replace the current CF-18s. The government launched a procurement process for the future fighter aircraft in December 2017. Officials conducted extensive industry engagement with suppliers to maximize the likelihood that Canada receives competitive proposals, and with Canadian industry to ensure that they are well positioned to participate in the procurement. 

On March 28, 2022, following a rigorous evaluation of the 2 remaining eligible proposals, Canada announced it would enter into the finalization phase of the procurement process with the top-ranked bidder Lockheed Martin. The Government of Canada continues to work towards a contract award in 2022, with deliveries to be confirmed following completion of the finalization phase.

Communications implications

This project has garnered significant national media interest nationally since it was launched in 2015. The recent conflict in the Ukraine has brought added attention to Canada’s military spending and defence procurement projects.

Commercial procurement

COVID-19: Long-term vaccine agreements and new vaccine formulations

Canada has secured COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax and Medicago for 2022 and 2023, with options to extend into 2024. Some doses have been deferred from the initial agreements to 2022.

In addition to providing booster vaccine doses, the agreements provide flexibility to procure new second-generation COVID-19 vaccines adaptations, such as those to protect against mutations or variants of concern, and vaccines developed for younger populations.

Communications implications

As new formulations for COVID-19 vaccines receive regulatory authorization from Health Canada, there continues to be media interest in availability and cost of those doses. Communications messages are regularly updated, in coordination with Health Canada/Public Health Agency of Canada counterparts. Participation in Government of Canada press conferences to announce newly authorised vaccine formulations continues to be an option. In addition, vaccine manufacturers remain eager to publicly announce their new vaccine variants, and PSPC liaises with them regarding public communications.

National Dental Care Plan

Health Canada and other government partners have been working quickly to develop advice for the government about how best to implement the commitment to put in place a national dental care plan, including significant work with stakeholders and experts on the design of a new dental care program.

On July 25, 2022, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of Health Canada (HC) released a request for information (RFI) to industry seeking input to inform the development of the Canadian Dental Care Program. The RFI closed on August 22, 2022. PSPC and HC are currently reviewing, consolidating and analysing the responses.

Communications implications

The National Dental Care Plan has received significant media attention since it was announced, and that is expected to continue, given the significant political implications surrounding the national plan. For PSPC there is a significant amount of work to do to establish a service provider(s), and this is a major undertaking for the department. PSPC works regularly with HC to ensure communications messaging is aligned. When a contract is eventually awarded, this could be a high-profile ministerial announcement.

Guns Buy Back Program

On May 30, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Government of Canada had tabled new gun control legislation which includes a commitment to buy back newly prohibited firearms. The program is led by Public Safety Canada (PS), while Public Services and Procurement Canada will be leading the procurement project on PS’s behalf.

On July 13, 2022, Public Services and Procurement Canada issued a request for information, on behalf of Public Safety Canada, requesting industry feedback on the Buyback Program. The purpose of the RFI is to collect feedback from industry on best practices and capacities that could be used to support certain program activities that may not be performed directly by Government of Canada departments and agencies. No contract will be awarded as a result of this RFI, and participation in the RFI is not mandatory for suppliers wishing to compete any potential solicitation.

Communications implications

There has been significant media and industry attention on the buyback program since its announcement, and most of it has been neutral to negative in tone. This attention is expected to continue as the process to implement the program moves forward. PSPC works regularly with Public Safety to update communications messaging and develop appropriate responses to media inquiries.

Policy, Planning and Communications Branch and regional portfolio

Additional crossing in the National Capital Region

The work for an additional crossing between Ottawa and Gatineau has spanned the last decade and more, with multiple phases and iterations of studies. The objective of these studies was to gather information on alternatives to improve interprovincial transportation capacity, including heavy commercial vehicle traffic across the Ottawa River.

At this stage, Public Services and Procurement Canada and the National Capital Commission (NCC) are working in close collaboration to gather new information to assess the necessity and potential options for an additional National Capital Region crossing.

Communications implications

PSPC and the NCC work closely to develop communications messaging and respond to media calls.

Alexandra Bridge replacement project

The Alexandra Bridge is over 120 years old and is nearing the end of its lifecycle. Over the last few years, the state of the bridge has continued to deteriorate. This has and will continue to result in more frequent closures to perform the necessary rehabilitation and repair work to keep serving users. As part of a broader effort to improve interprovincial transportation in the NCR, the government mandated the replacement of the Alexandra Bridge in Budget 2019. To replace the Alexandra Bridge, which is expected to take 10 years, we will undertake the planning, impact assessment activities, design, procurement, construction of a new bridge.

Communications implications

There has been significant local media coverage with stakeholder groups arguing that the bridge should be maintained.

Lac Mégantic

On May 11, 2018, Transport Canada (TC) announced the Lac-Mégantic bypass project. As part of this project, TC mandated Public Services and Procurement Canada to acquire plots of land belonging to 43 different owners in Lac-Mégantic, Frontenac and Nantes. Some of these plots will only be leased and not purchased.

Communication implications

This file is generating interest from the media and the general public, particularly in the 3 municipalities and towns affected. PSPC is working with TC to align messaging and respond to media calls.

Real property

Portfolio plan/ Disposal of buildings

Update on what buildings will be disposed of in the NCR and what it means for PSPC's portfolio. Disposal of these properties to federal, provincial, municipal and community stakeholders, including Indigenous groups, provides opportunities to generate socio-economic benefits such as affordable housing, redesigned community or commercial space and meaningful opportunities for Indigenous participation and reconciliation.

Communications implications

Messaging has been prepared to explain the process going forward.

Future of work / return to work

Plans for return to work and what PSPC is doing to support other departments in the return to work efforts and what effect it will have on our portfolio.

Communications implications

PSPC works closely with Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) to align messaging.

Pay

Pay/Phoenix

While progress has been made on stabilizing pay operations and the Phoenix pay system since its launch and roll out in 2016 to 2018, problems with public servants pay files persist. Media is not as focused on Phoenix as it once was, but the monthly dashboard, which is showing steady increases in both the backlog of cases not yet processed as well as the queue of financial transactions received since summer 2021, may generate a return of critical media stories.

Communications implications

There has been significant media, political and union attention on the Phoenix pay system since its launch and is negative in tone. This attention is expected to continue as public servants continue to experience pay issues. PSPC works directly with TBS to update communications messaging and develop appropriate responses to media inquiries.

Parliamentary Precinct

Future of Wellington Street

Public and media interest on the future of Wellington Street was high in the days following the illegal protests in Ottawa in early 2022. Interest has since turned to discussion of the use of the Emergencies Act . While coverage has subsided, federal and municipal legislators have pressed for the permanent closure of Wellington Street to vehicular traffic and several parliamentary committees have considered evidence on the issue. With additional committee meetings scheduled for the fall, the Government of Canada must take appropriate action to address governance, accessibility and security issues.

Communications implications

A communications plan is in development to support work on this file.

Top 5 media issues

Defence and marine procurement

• Files of interests:
  • National Shipbuilding Strategy
  • military procurement
  • future fighter capability project
  • contract awards
  • scheduling or project delays
  • cost overruns
  • local and regional benefits
  • shipyards:
    • Irving
    • Seaspan
    • Chantiers Davie
• Reporters / outlets:
  • [Redacted] (Canadian Press)
  • [Redacted] (Ottawa Citizen)
  • [Redacted] (CBC)
  • [Redacted] (Skies Magazine)
  • [Redacted] (The Globe and Mail)
  • [Redacted] (Chronicle Herald)
  • [Redacted] (Reuters Canada)
  • [Redacted] (North Shore News)
  • [Redacted] (Canadian Army Today)
  • [Redacted] (Ici Radio-Canada Info)
  • Le Soleil
  • Le Journal de Québec
  • Agence QMI

Real property management

• Files of interests:
  • construction of buildings
  • bridges and dams
  • repair and maintenance of federal assets
  • health and safety
  • payments in lieu of taxes
  • Energy Services Acquisition Program
  • future of work
  • real estate portfolio reduction
• Reporters / outlets:
  • [Redacted] (Le Droit)
  • [Redacted] (The Hill Times)
  • [Redacted] (CTV National News)
  • [Redacted] (Policy Option)
  • [Redacted] (Ottawa Citizen)
  • Radio-Canada/CBC Ottawa-Gatineau

Parliament Hill rehabilitation

• Files of interests:
  • rehabilitation projects on Parliament Hill
  • block 2
  • Long Term Vision and Plan
  • future of Wellington Street
• Reporters / outlets:
  • [Redacted] (The Hill Times)
  • [Redacted] (CBC National)
  • [Redacted] (TVA National)
  • [Redacted] (National Post)
  • [Redacted] (The Globe and Mail)
  • [Redacted] (Ici Radio-Canada)
  • Canadian Press
  • Radio-Canada/CBC Ottawa-Gatineau
  • Ottawa Citizen
  • Le Droit
  • iPolitics

Interpretation services (Translation Bureau)

• Files of interests:
  • virtual parliament and interpretation services
  • interpreters’ health and safety concerns
  • Indigenous languages interpretation
• Reporters / outlets:
  • [Redacted] (The Hill Times)
  • [Redacted] (Ici Radio-Canada Info Ottawa/Gatineau)
  • [Redacted] (Le Droit)
  • [Redacted] (Canadian Press)
  • [Redacted] (Francopresse)
  • [Redacted] (CBC News Ottawa)

Covid-19 procurement

• Files of interests:
  • vaccines procurement
  • rapid test procurement
  • personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • procurement
  • ArriveCAN and border testing
• Reporters / outlets:
  • [Redacted] (CBC National)
  • [Redacted] (The Globe and Mail)
  • [Redacted] (CTV National News)
  • [Redacted] (The Canadian Press)
  • [Redacted] (National Post)
  • [Redacted] (Ici Radio-Canada Info Nationale)
  • [Redacted] (La Presse)

Forward planning communications opportunities: Fall 2022

September 2022

Marine procurement

September 17 (to be confirmed (TBC)), Seaspan lead: offshore oceanographic science vessel (OOSV): Keel laying and naming ceremony at Vancouver Shipyards. Minister should receive an invitation to attend from Seaspan.

Commercial procurement

Week of September 4 (TBC), news release (NR) for contract award for the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act Pension Fund waterlot remediation contract award: Awarded on August 23 for the Canadian Forces Sailing Association waterlot remediation project (part of Esquimalt Graving Dock), under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan program. Contract of approximately $20M for dredging, removal of contaminated sediment and placement of clean sand. An Indigenous participation requirement (IPR) is required for this project. Stakeholders: Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation. Site work to begin in early fall 2022, completed by late-March 2023. An additional $3.5M will be allocated for the next 3 years to study and address uplands from that waterlot. NR, questions and answers.

For your information: Week of September 4 (TBC), Department of National Defence (DND) Canadian Forces base (CFB) alert site management contract award: DND and company lead: Potential event and NR with DND and company to announce the contract award for site management of CFB Alert. [Redacted]. DND to issue an NR. The company will also issue an NR to announce the contract. Contract value is of $139M over 16 years.

September 2022 (TBC), contract award for the Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program lunar rover: Canadian Standards Association lead with support from PSPC (products to be determined (TBD)).

Late September 2022 (TBC), CanadaBuys launch: official launch of the Government of Canada’s new electronic procurement solution, CanadaBuys. PSPC-led announcement/event.

Pay administration, Receiver General, etc

September 27 (TBC), NR online regulatory consultation system: Joint PSPC-TBS news release to announce online regulatory consultation system, a key component of the Canada Gazette’s modernization efforts, as well as the government’s commitment to providing a transparent and improved regulatory process. (NR, Support Media, Consumer magazines, web, videos, our stories)

Science and parliamentary infrastructure branch

September 21 (TBC), Labs Can cultural heritage science (CHS) renewal project: Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food lead. As part of the CHS renewal project. This event is being led by Canadian Feed Industry Association, with PSPC support. Site blessing and ground-breaking ceremony to inaugurate the construction of new facilities at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Sidney Laboratory, also known as the Centre for Plant Health, in North Saanich, British Columbia. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2022. (Ministerial quote in the news release of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency)

Policy, planning and communications

September 30, Truth and Reconciliation Day: Activities TBD

Translation bureau

September 22, International Sign Language Day: Again this year, the Translation Bureau is keen on putting forward the work done to communicate with Canada’s community of the deaf. An article on the Translation Bureau’s vibrant team of sign language interpreters will be published by PSPC’s proactive comms team. (Opportunity for ministerial quote card or statement)

Pacific region

Week of September 4 (TBC), NR to announce Sinclair Centre redevelopment: contract award: This is part of a broader strategy in Metro Vancouver to provide a central and accessible location as well as consolidate and modernize this site. NR will announce the contract award for the architect and engineering advisor, who will support the governance in planning, hiring the main construction company, and overseeing the project for the next decade. Other opportunities for announcements (for example, possibly with First Nations or other stakeholders) will follow once larger contracts are awarded and announced.

October 2022

Marine procurement

Mid to late October (TBC), CCG NR for Canadian coast guard ship (CCGS) Terry Fox Vessel Life Extension (VLE) contract award. CCG will lead. (Opportunity for ministerial quote in NR).

Fall 2022 (TBC), naval large tugs (NLTs) NLTs 1 and 2 acceptance: DND will lead on event. (Opportunity for ministerial quote in the NR).

Fall 2022 (TBC), medium icebreakers (MIB): acceptance of third icebreaker CCGS Vincent Massey—CCG will lead on event. (Opportunity for ministerial quote in NR)

Fall 2022 (TBC), third shipyard selection: announce the signing of an umbrella agreement with a third shipyard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy—PSPC will lead on an event.

Commercial procurement

Week of October 3 (TBC), DND event for operational clothing and footwear consolidated contract: $3.8B over a period of up to 20 years. DND lead with support from PSPC (TBC). Event to take place where the company is located in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec. Speech.

October 2022 (TBC), Moderna domestic supply agreement: announce signing of agreement with Moderna for supply of domestically produced vaccines (to be produced at Moderna’s future facility in Quebec). PSPC-led event, with participation from Health Canada and Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

Fall 2022 (TBC), tentative launch of the Supplier Diversity Program.

Real property services

October 14 (TBC), construction contract award for bridge deck replacement of the LaSalle Causeway: contract is valued at approx. $9.4M including risk and contingency with the total project cost at $14.7M. Construction is anticipated to begin.

November 2022

Defence procurement

November 2022 (TBC), light armoured vehicle reconnaissance surveillance system—first vehicle delivery. DND lead on products.

December 2022

Real property services

Winter 2022 to 2023 (TBC), completion of east end dock extension at Esquimalt Graving Dock: the project is valued at approximately $42M (TBC) and consists of extending section 3 of the graving dock by 36 metres and the dock floor is being refurbished; total length of the graving dock will be 395 metres. This will increase the service capacity of the dock by freeing up an estimated 200 section days of space for other vessels which amounts to almost $1M additional revenue annually and reduces DND’s repair and maintenance costs by more than a million dollars. (NR only).

Defence procurement

Winter 2022 (TBC), future fighter capability project: announce contract award for new fighter jets for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Joint DND/PSPC event.

Policy, Planning and Communications

Minister’s holiday message to employees: Activities to be determined.

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