2025 Reports 1 to 4 of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of CanadaFederal organizations frequently failed to follow procurement rules when awarding contracts to GCStrategies Inc.
Ottawa, 10 June 2025—A report from Auditor General Karen Hogan tabled today in the House of Commons concludes that federal organizations frequently disregarded government procurement rules that promote fairness, transparency, and value for Canadians when they awarded professional services contracts to Ottawa-based information technology staffing company GCStrategies Inc.
Between April 2015 and March 2024, 31 federal organizations retained GCStrategies Inc. for services. There were 106 contracts for a total maximum value of $92.7 million, of which about $64.5 million was ultimately paid out. These figures include the value of the 4 contracts awarded to GCStrategies Inc. for ArriveCAN during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Federal organizations are responsible for assessing the level of security required for a contract and verifying that the people doing the work have the necessary clearance. The audit found that in 21% of contracts examined, federal organizations lacked documentation to show that they had confirmed security clearances.
The audit also found that federal organizations disregarded government policies that required them to monitor the work performed by contractors. They frequently did not have evidence to show who performed the work, what work was completed, or whether the people doing the work had the required experience and qualifications.
“The findings in this audit echo those of previous audits, where we found deficiencies in how public servants applied federal procurement rules,” Ms. Hogan said. “There are no recommendations in this report because I don’t believe the government needs more procurement rules. Rather, federal organizations need to make sure that the rules that exist are understood and followed.”
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The 2025 Report of the Auditor General of Canada, Professional Services Contracts with GCStrategies Inc., is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
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