Ottawa gave McKinsey & Company a contract by the year 2100.
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This is one of the pieces of information that emerged at the opening of Monday’s parliamentary inquiry into the Trudeau government’s use of the services of this consultancy.
The House of Commons Operations Committee has launched this investigation into the numerous contracts awarded since 2015, totaling more than $100 million.
This is an open contract for professional computer services beginning August 2019 and ending January 31, 2100 according to what can be found on the Government of Canada website.
This revelation provoked several reactions during the hearings.
“What justifies an open contract for the next 81 years, asks Bloc member for Beauport-Limoilou, Julie Vignola. What justifies keeping the consultant and not hiring specialists because at some point in 81 years I can’t believe we can’t have specialists anymore.”
Amanda Clarke, a public administration expert and professor at Carleton University, also questions the decision.
“I don’t know the contract specifically, but this idea of having contracts for a period of 81 years, yes, that strikes me as outrageous,” she explains.
For its part, the Trudeau administration has not yet issued a statement on the award of this contract.
Several government officials will appear during the Operations Committee hearings in the coming days.
Canada’s former ambassador to China, who once ran McKinsey, Dominic Barton is scheduled to appear on Wednesday.