Billions of Indigenous procurement dollars go to Ottawa-area firms — but the rest of Can­ada is largely shut out. @theijf.org, @aptnnews.bsky.social and students from First Nations University of Canada and @uregina.bsky.social teamed up to find out where the money went. Learn more at the link

Investigative Journalism Foundation@theijf.org · 10mo ago

Billions of dollars in federal contracts intended to support Indigenous businesses across Canada are being awarded to two dozen firms in Ottawa, leaving many regions out in the cold. zurl.co/dL3VZ #ottawa #truthandreconciliation #cdnpoli

As Ottawa rolls out billions in major projects, most smaller Canadian firms remain shut out of federal contracting. The numbers tell the story. zurl.co/hbxY2 #cdnpoli

Federal contracting sidelines smaller businesses, watchdog warns

Ottawa contracting practices still challenging for smaller businesses, records show

zurl.co

Indigenous Services Canada fails to deliver on most promises, says auditor general www.aptnnews.ca?p=278710 #indigenous #cdnpoli

Indigenous Services ignored 18 out of 34 recommendations

The audit’s findings are especially alarming in two areas: access to safe drinking water and emergency management services.

aptnnews.ca

Long domestic flight delay? You could be owed money. CUPE says flight attendants are often caught in the middle — trying to calm passengers while airlines give mixed messages about compensation.

Investigative Journalism Foundation@theijf.org · 11mo ago

About a third of Canadian flights are delayed each year, and passengers and crews pay the price. Read the details in our latest analysis. zurl.co/sZcxR #cdnpoli #airline

What happens when a celebrated scientist is accused of fabricating results to promote his patented product? We’ve obtained a leaked investigation report into misconduct at UBC, and we’re making the findings public for the first time. theijf.org/ubc-misconduct #bcpoli #science #CBC

We take you inside Big Tech’s playbook for fighting laws that compensate news outlets for their content. Read our investigation with other media outlets into the actions of companies like Meta and Google that run public campaigns and make threats to stop serving news.

Inside Big Tech’s playbook to halt media compensation laws

Meta and Google ran public campaigns, made threats to stop serving news, struck private deals and mobilized prominent supporters to try to influence or stall laws in Brazil, Canada, Indonesia and…

buff.ly

Bethany Lindsay@bethanylindsay.bsky.social · last yr.

30 years ago, BC Mounties launched an investigation into abuse at every residential school in the province. It was the first—and last—probe on this scale. The task force's final report was buried in the RCMP archives, until it popped up in @theijf.org's databases. theijf.org/residential-...

Migrant surveillance data no longer has to remain in Canada. Why did Canada Border Services quietly make that change? buff.ly/bE7x7ej #cdnpoli

Migrant surveillance data no longer has to remain in Canada. That has civil liberties advocates worried

The Canada Border Services Agency revised a surveillance technology contract to allow foreign companies to bid on ankle monitors for migrants

buff.ly

A public servant's battle with the CRA exposes cracks in how the federal system hires, fires and rehires.

Investigative Journalism Foundation@theijf.org · last yr.

A former CRA employee worked three different positions at the agency over a span of more than 15 years before getting fired, but he has fought the agency at every turn. We broke down the years-long legal proceedings. buff.ly/cOPstPa #cdnpoli

A former deputy PM. A $2B pandemic federal contract. And a courtroom battle over alleged unregistered lobbying. My latest for the IJF:

Investigative Journalism Foundation@theijf.org · last yr.

Former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps says her firm, Medipro Canada, is owed tens of millions of dollars for helping a medical equipment company win federal contracts during the pandemic. theijf.org/former-deput...

We are grateful to English River First Nation and the Returning Home Society for sharing their story, reported through a collaboration between First Nations University of Canada and @theijf.org

Investigative Journalism Foundation@theijf.org · last yr.

Sixty “potential unmarked burials” have been found near the grounds of a former residential school in Beauval, Sask., English River First Nation announced yesterday. A group searching for missing children from the Beauval school plans to further analyze the sites. theijf.org/possible-bur...

Today is the Michener Awards ceremony, the highest honour in Canadian journalism! Excited that my work on federal procurement for @globalnews.ca is nominated, including a collaboration with researchers at First Nations University of Canada & University of King's College tinyurl.com/38m42ur2

Billions in federal contracts awarded to ‘Indigenous’ enterprises without verification | Globalnews.ca

The Canadian government mostly relied on an honour system when it awarded billions of dollars in contracts to enterprises identifying as Indigenous.

tinyurl.com

The real issue, a law professor said, is a legal gap that leaves the prime minister as his own judge. If the prime minister were to violate the Conflict of Interest Act, “Mark Carney gets to decide what to do about it.”

Investigative Journalism Foundation@theijf.org · last yr.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is the former head of Brookfield Asset Management. But now, Brookfield-linked companies are lobbying him for help with resource development. Is the PM in a conflict of interest? Read more to find out. buff.ly/LgcrLtL #brookfield #markcarney #cdnpoli

Two Canadian manufacturers and an industry group are urging the lobbying commissioner to investigate Sheila Copps’ role in discussions about possible pandemic-era contracts. One importer involved later received an estimated $2 billion in federal deals.

Investigative Journalism Foundation@theijf.org · last yr.

Canadian medical supply manufacturers want an investigation into former Liberal minister Sheila Copps’ alleged role in helping importers land government meetings. One importer later received billions in pandemic contracts. Find out more. buff.ly/NusiegH #cdnpoli #pandemic

Thank you for the kind words! Honoured to be recognized #PressFreedom

World Press Freedom Canada - Liberté de la presse Canada @wpfc-lpc.bsky.social · last yr.

Congrats to @pattisonntag.bsky.social for winning a #PressFreedom Award Certificate of Merit for her tenacious reporting on Indigenous procurement. Félicitations à Patti Sonntag pour avoir remporté un certificat de mérite. Learn more: buff.ly/qgrV5jx #cdnpoli #WPFCLuncheon2025

The federal Liberal government unveiled billions in funding — including millions for battleground ridings in Alberta — days before it called the election. One prof says that wasn’t fair to the opposition parties. Find out more: theijf.org/ottawa-unvei...

Ottawa unveiled billions in funding days before election call — targeting millions at key Alberta ridings

“It’s just yet another example of the rules of the game tilting in favour of the governing party,” professor says

theijf.org

We’re thrilled to announce Patti Sonntag is joining the IJF as our eyes and ears on the ground in Ottawa! A highly decorated Canadian reporter, Patti brings extensive experience in data-driven investigations and public-interest reporting. Read the story. buff.ly/akhqiLF #cdnpoli #Ottawa

My latest, with @christopher.bsky.social nationalpost.com/news/politic...

Former Liberal minister worked government contacts to ply COVID contracts without registering as lobbyist

Former deputy PM Copps said she had permission not to register as lobbyist with the Trudeau government. One offer was flagged as suspicious.

nationalpost.com

This article has sparked some of the most thoughtful and nuanced responses I’ve ever received.

Patti Sonntag@pattisonntag.bsky.social · 2y ago

My latest: “Show Canadians where your money is” Opposition leaders call for stricter disclosure rules nationalpost.com/news/canada/...

Carney says he resigned from 'all' his roles to run for Liberal leadership. Turns out he hasn't. t.co/MWQJZdDCfG

My latest: “Show Canadians where your money is” Opposition leaders call for stricter disclosure rules nationalpost.com/news/canada/...

'Unprecedented situation': Opposition critics say Carney's leadership bid shows need for stricter disclosure rules

Opposition parties are warning that Mark Carney could become prime minister before revealing his assets or potential conflicts of interest.

nationalpost.com

Former Liberal minister Randy Boissonnault's pandemic startup banned from government contracts nationalpost.com/news/canada/...

I battled for three years to get this data released. Now we know the names of the 16 companies that allegedly broke rules requiring them to pay for independent environmental monitoring by scientists.

Alberta kept fines for 16 oilsands companies secret for three years | The Narwhal

Environment Ministry ordered to release data after keeping names of 16 oilsands companies secret

thenarwhal.ca

Attn all journos: Tonight after work at 7 pm ET, chat with @mtlgazette.bsky.social's @aaronderfel.bsky.social on Zoom with the CAJ He'll tell us how he got the scoop on six deaths at a Montreal hospital and how you can bring vivid detail to reporting on your region's health-care pressures.

Aaron Derfel@aaronderfel.bsky.social · 2y ago

For those interested in how I got the scoop on the horrific deaths of 6 patients at a Montreal hospital that were covered up - and the action taken in response to my series - click below for more info on my Q & A this Thursday evening with the great @pattisonntag.bsky.social . caj.ca/programs/eve...

Randy Boissonnault stepping down from cabinet after shifting claims on Indigenous heritage nationalpost.com/news/randy-b...

Randy Boissonnault stepping down from cabinet after shifting claims on Indigenous heritage

The announcement came after the National Post made revelations on the minister's shifting claims to Indigenous ancestry.

nationalpost.com

For those interested in how I got the scoop on the horrific deaths of 6 patients at a Montreal hospital that were covered up - and the action taken in response to my series - click below for more info on my Q & A this Thursday evening with the great @pattisonntag.bsky.social . caj.ca/programs/eve...

Events - Canadian Association of Journalists

caj.ca

My latest on this file, from National Post

Mike De Souza@mikedesouza.bsky.social · 2y ago

A business co-owned by Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault shared a mailbox with a woman detained in two drug busts. The minister says he didn’t know her. Another scoop by @pattisonntag.bsky.social

Boissonnault’s links to Indigenous identity are under scrutiny following revelations last week that a company he co-owned — Global Health Imports — unsuccessfully bid on two federal contracts in 2020 while declaring itself to be “Indigenous” and “Aboriginal owned.” nationalpost.com/news/randy-b...

'It's just shocking': Liberal cabinet minister's shifting Indigenous identity scorned

Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault now says his shift from Cree to Métis is because he has learned more about his past

nationalpost.com

My exclusive for the National Post: A cabinet minister was running a startup that said it was Indigenous. nationalpost.com/news/randy-b...

EXCLUSIVE: Liberal minister's former business questioned over 'Indigenous' claims in government contract bids

Global Health Imports said it was Indigenous-owned in bid for federal contracts, although Boissonnault has identified himself as white.

nationalpost.com

Sorry to leave Global News in this recent round of layoffs. I'm proud of the award-winning work I've produced and am now looking for a new home for many more exclusives. If you are a news editor or producer in need of scoops, especially re: gov't contracting, hit me up.