Ottawa: Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc argued before a parliamentary committee that the names of private sector employees serving in the Major Projects Office (MPO) should not be made public. Speaking at a joint parliamentary committee on Tuesday, he stated that it is incorrect to cast suspicion on organizations and individuals stepping forward to serve the nation. The Minister clarified his position after MPO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Don Farrell refused to share the employees’ personal details.
LeBlanc pointed out that the secondment program was initiated in 1971 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and urged against creating unnecessary concerns over a system with a legacy of over fifty years. He assured the committee that he could provide the total number of employees working in the MPO, along with details of the screenings conducted to prevent conflicts of interest. Both the Minister and CEO Farrell clarified that one-third of the MPO workforce consists of non-public sector employees.
Conservative MP Connie Cody questioned what mechanism is in place to ensure that employees coming from private companies do not improperly assist their parent companies’ projects. However, LeBlanc and Farrell assured that employees have no personal investments in these projects. The committee is reviewing measures under the ‘Building Canada Act’, which came into effect last year. Officials also highlighted that the MPO is supporting 18 major projects across the country, expected to generate over $190 billion in new investments and 200,000 jobs.
