Ottawa, ON – Michael Barrett, Conservative Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs; Fraser Tolmie, Associate Conservative Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs; and Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Québec Lieutenant, released the following statement demanding the Liberals prioritize Canadian veterans and businesses:
“As Canadians approach Remembrance Day, Conservatives demand the Liberal government reverse its decision to shut out the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires – our largest non-governmental employer of veterans – in favour of an American-owned company.
“Despite months of ‘Buy Canadian’ rhetoric from the Liberals, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) awarded a nearly $12 million security contract to Universal Protection Service: a subsidiary of Trump-aligned Allied Universal. The US company beat out the non-profit Commissionaires by just $80,000 on a multi-million dollar bid.
“Through another subsidiary, Allied Universal does over $80 million USD in business with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with government contracts totalling hundreds of millions awarded under the Trump administration.
“The Liberals claim they’re ‘putting Canadian workers and industries first’. Now, they will have a chance to prove it. After today’s debate, the House of Commons will vote tomorrow on a Conservative motion that would cancel the CRA’s contract with Universal Protection Service and award it to a Canadian supplier.
“This November, and every month, Conservatives will always fight for the men and women who stand on guard for us, and for a government that puts Canadian businesses first.”