Rachel Blaney Appointed NDP Critic For Public Services And Procurement

North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney has been appointed as the NDP’s new critic for Public Services and Procurement.

The portfolio was announced after the party’s recent by-election win in Winnipeg.

Blaney’s duties will include becoming the new permanent member on the Standing Committee for Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO).
One of the committee’s current priorities is studying Indigenous Procurement.

The party says that’s a critical issue in the wake of data showing that billions of dollars in federal contracts intended for Indigenous businesses were awarded without verifying bidders’ Indigenous, Métis, or Inuit status.

“The Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB) has been plagued by confusion, contradictions, and a serious lack of transparency,” Blaney says.

“With more than 20 First Nations in my riding, I’ve witnessed firsthand how poorly designed programs like PSIB negatively affect Indigenous communities. It’s unacceptable that so much funding was awarded without proper safeguards to ensure the businesses were eligible. This highlights the deep systemic biases in our procurement processes.”

In addition to her new responsibilities, Blaney will continue serving as the NDP critic for Veterans Affairs.