{"id":12504,"date":"2023-01-31T16:35:53","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T00:35:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/mckinsey-a-distraction-from-problem-of-consulting-contracts-researcher-tells-mps\/"},"modified":"2023-01-31T16:35:53","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T00:35:53","slug":"mckinsey-a-distraction-from-problem-of-consulting-contracts-researcher-tells-mps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/mckinsey-a-distraction-from-problem-of-consulting-contracts-researcher-tells-mps\/","title":{"rendered":"McKinsey a ‘distraction’ from problem of consulting contracts, researcher tells MPs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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OTTAWA \u2014 A researcher testifying before a parliamentary committee on the rise in government contracts awarded to McKinsey & Company said the focus on that one consulting firm is a distraction.<\/p>\n

Amanda Clarke, an associate professor of public administration at Carleton University, said the study should focus on the public service\u2019s reliance on consulting firms overall.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe focus on outsourcing and contracting in the federal government is the broad enough umbrella to get at these issues and any given firm,\u201d Clarke said Monday (Jan. 30).<\/p>\n

Clarke says there are legitimate questions about McKinsey\u2019s ethical track record, but that would be a separate issue to consider from the outsourcing of public service work.<\/p>\n

McKinsey has received attention in recent weeks after media reports highlighted the rapid growth of the company\u2019s work with the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.<\/p>\n

According to the most updated tally from the Procurement Department, McKinsey has been awarded at least $116.8 million in federal contracts since 2015.<\/p>\n

Clarke said the reliance on management consulting firms within the public service \u201cbetrays\u201d the principles of responsible public administration.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy research suggested in a number of ways the federal public service breaches acceptable best practice in responsible public administration when it contracts with large management consulting firms,\u201d Clarke said.<\/p>\n

Clarke offered several solutions to address the problem of ballooning contracts with consulting firms, including pursuing a reform of the public service.<\/p>\n

The House of Commons government operations committee will review contracts awarded to the firm since 2011, which would also include those signed by the former Conservative government.<\/p>\n

The consulting firm has also been scrutinized for its role in the opioid pandemic in the United States as well as working with autocratic governments globally.<\/p>\n

Representatives from the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, a union representing public servants, also testified on Jan. 30.<\/p>\n

Jennifer Carr, the union president, slammed the outsourcing of public service work to private firms and said it was creating a \u201cshadow public service.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis shadow public service plays by an entirely different set of rules,\u201d Carr said.<\/p>\n

The committee will hold its next meeting on the McKinsey contracts on Wednesday. MPs will hear from Dominic Barton, the former global managing director for McKinsey.<\/p>\n

The Liberal government\u2019s relationship with Barton has come under scrutiny in the midst of questions about the extent of the firm\u2019s influence on public policy.<\/p>\n

Barton served as the chair of an advisory council on economic growth for former finance minister Bill Morneau.<\/p>\n

In 2019, he was appointed Canada\u2019s ambassador to China and held that post until 2021.<\/p>\n

Trudeau has asked Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek and Treasury Board President Mona Fortier to look into the contracts with McKinsey and to ensure proper processes were followed.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 2023 The Canadian Press<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n