Procurement problems: Yukon promises sweeping reforms

The Yukon government is pledging widespread change to its rules on procurement after astrongly-worded report from the Yukon Procurement Advisory Panel.

The report, published in May, cites vendors who describe Yukon's procurement system as bureaucratic, inconsistent and slow, with some vendors feeling decisions are often arbitrary and unexplained.

It also includes allegations ofbias, noting"some perception of political involvement in decisionmaking or complaints."

The report also criticized the government's behaviour, saying it"needs to foster a culture of mutual support and cooperation between YG and local vendors, not fear and antagonism."

New system for complaints, appeals

The review panel was formed in 2015. Its members conducted interviews with business and Yukon government staff to discuss "unique challenges and concerns of the local business community and Yukon contractors."

It recommends widespread changes including a new system to handle complaints and appeals.

Scott Kent, Yukon's Minister of Public Works, pledges the government will enact all of therecommendations.

One of the most serious allegations raised is that vendors fear blacklisting if they complain aboutthe government process.

Not 'an acceptable standard of practice,'says minister

Kent denies this is happening, but says the government has to change the perception.

"When we hear concerns like that we take them very seriously," he says."That is not what we in government feel would be an acceptable standard of practice."

Kent says he's set out a 37-point plan for change with specifictimelines.

"We need to gain the confidence of the local business community," Kent says. "Obviously there's a lot that has to be done."

Training coming

The report says vendors "expressed a lack of confidence in the procurement skills and knowledge of procurement authorities."

Kent acknowledges dissatisfaction with the "consistency and training" of Yukon government workers, and says more training is coming.

"One of the things we have to take into account is educating our own staff internally on what constitutes proper procurement practices," he says.

According to Kent, there are no plans to hire new staff, and no extra funding has been announced. Changes will behandled with existing resources.

He estimates that "1,400 or 1,500 people have some level of procurement authority within the Yukon government."

New board created

Now that the panel's work is done, thegovernment has created another board: the Continuous Improvement Procurement Group.

The new group will gather business and government representatives to discuss policy.

However, itwill not have authority to cancel contracts or enforce penalties.