Parliament returns with Liberals facing pointed questions about ethics, health care

Parliament is back after a six-week break and the Liberal government is facing aggressive questionsfrom the opposition bench about a number of ethical missteps and the sorry state of Canada's health-care system two issues that are poised to dominate this spring sitting.

On the ethics front, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called onthe Liberal government toreportthe amount ofmoney it has funnelled to McKinsey, a consulting firm that has received tens of millions of dollars in government contracts over the past seven years.

The U.S.-based McKinsey, which has faced criticism over its past role in the opioid crisis, was oncerun by Dominic Barton, the man tapped by Trudeau to be Canada's ambassador to China.

WATCH | Poilievrequestions Trudeau aboutMcKinsey contracts

Conservative leader calls on PM to report exact amount government paid consultant

1 year ago

Duration 1:20

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre questions Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the federal governments contract with consulting firm McKinsey.

McKinsey has provided advice to the federal bureaucracy on immigration issues, among other matters.Poilievre said it's not clearthe government got good value for its money.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is grappling with a backlog ofsome 2.2 million cases as it works to review applications.

While many Canadians are struggling with a shaky economy and sky-high inflation, Poilievre said "the people Trudeau surrounds himself with like the high-priced consultants at McKinsey are doing better than ever."

Trudeau ducked questions about McKinsey in question period Monday, sayinghis government is focused on the middle class while the Conservatives are pushing "cuts and austerity and not being there for Canadians."

"He's always had difficulty defining what the middle class is," Poilievre quipped.

Procurement Minister Helena Jazceck later told the Commons that the government is doing a "full review" of the McKinsey contracts to ensure they align with all Treasury Board policies and directives.

Barton also has been called to appear before a parliamentary committee reviewing the increasein federal outsourcing to the New York-based consulting giant.

A researcher testifying before that committee Mondaysaid the focus on McKinseyis a distraction.Amanda Clarke, an associate professor of public administration at Carleton University, said the study should focus on the public service's reliance on consulting firms overall.

"The focus on outsourcing and contracting in the federal government is the broad enough umbrella to get at these issues and any given firm," Clarke said.

Trade minister questioned over breach of ethics rules

International Trade Minister Mary Ng was also in the hot seat Monday. The ethics commissioner concludedshe breached Canada's conflict of interest rules whenher office signed a contract with Ng's friend, communications professionaland CBC's Power &Politics pundit Amanda Alvaro.

In 2019-2020, Ng's office signed contracts for media and communications training with public relations agency Pomp & Circumstance, co-founded and run by Alvaro.

WATCH |"I made a mistake" minister makes statement on conflict of interest

I made a mistake minister makes statement on conflict of interest

1 year ago

Duration 1:11

During question period, Minister of International Trade Mary Ng responds to questioning from Conservative MP Michael Barrett.

Ng was "lining the pockets of her insider friend"by giving Alvaro's firm some $16,950 for work, said Conservative MP Michael Barrett, the party's ethics critic.

He called on Ng to "cut a cheque" to provide some "restitution for her corruption."

Ng apologized for not recusing herself from internal discussions about the contract but has refused to resign from cabinet.

That's not good enough for the Conservatives. The Conservative chair of the ethics committee, John Brassard, will convene a meeting Tuesday which could kick offa weeks-long probe into the matter.

Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen is also facing mounting criticismabout a contract.

Global News reported earlier this month that Hussen's constituency office hired a firm with ties to one of his staffers to do communications work in his Toronto-area riding.

That outlet reported Hussen's office awarded $93,050 in contracts to Munch More Media, a company that's usually focused on the food and restaurant industry.

Hussen said Monday politicians are expected to communicate with their constituents. He saidhis office followed all the procurement rules.

The ethics commissioner, he added, also concluded there was no conflict of interest.

One of Munch More Media's directors is Hiba Tariq, the sister to Hussen's director of policy, Tia Tariq, Global News has reported.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was focused on health-care issues on his first day back on Parliament Hill. He accusedthe Liberal government of allowing conservative premiers to undermine Canada's public health-care system.

At issue is Ontario's decision to send some surgeries like knee and hip replacementsto private clinics to help clear up a massive backlogfor these procedures in the hospital system.

The NDP has said such a plan is a slippery slope to a two-tier health-care system.

WATCH |Singh accuses Trudeau of a 'flip flop' on health-care privatization

Singh accuses Trudeau of a 'flip flop' on health-care privatization in Ontario

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Duration 1:05

During the first question period of the year, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh went after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for calling Ontario's recent moves on health care an 'innovation.'

The Ontario PCs have defended the move as a prudent approachthat will relieve a severely strained hospital system.

Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill, Singh said Ontario's plan may "cannibalize" the health systemby diverting personnel from public-run hospitals to for-profit clinics.

"The problem that we're up against will not be solved by an American-style, for-profit approach to health care," Singh said.He accusedTrudeau of flip-flopping on the issue after he blasted former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole for raising the possibility of some privatization during the last federal election campaign.

Trudeau has not condemned Ford's plan and has saidhe's open to "innovation" and solutions that alivate wait times.

Trudeau has said, however, that the federal government will aggressively enforce the Canada Health Act.

The Canada Health Act requires universal access to publicly funded health services covered by provincial and territorial plans, and bans user charges and extra-billing.