Discussion · Government Orders
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Québécois
“This bill creates a new defence agency without an independent watchdog to review contracts. Without an ombudsman, there will be no transparency. We need to help the defence sector, but not by hurting our democracy.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question, because it gives me the opportunity to mention something I did not address in my speech: the role of the procurement ombudsman. The ombudsman serves as an independent safeguard and external watchdog. When a contract is disputed and a clear answer is required, a complaint can be filed with the ombudsman. The ombudsman then appears before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, helping us get to the bottom of the matter. We correct course, if necessary. With the Defence Investment Agency, however, there will be no ombudsman. Just imagine: no transparency. I fully agree with my colleague that we need to speed up the process, that we need to support this sector and give it a helping hand, but at what cost? It must certainly not be at the cost of undermining our democracy.”
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question, because it gives me the opportunity to mention something I did not address in my speech: the role of the procurement ombudsman. The ombudsman serves as an independent safeguard and external watchdog. When a contract is disputed and a clear answer is required, a complaint can be filed with the ombudsman. The ombudsman then appears before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, helping us get to the bottom of the matter. We correct course, if necessary. With the Defence Investment Agency, however, there will be no ombudsman. Just imagine: no transparency. I fully agree with my colleague that we need to speed up the process, that we need to support this sector and give it a helping hand, but at what cost? It must certainly not be at the cost of undermining our democracy.