{
  "metadata": {
    "generated": "2026-04-07",
    "updated": "2026-07-11",
    "source": "Auditor General reports, Parliamentary Budget Office, Parliamentary Committees, CBC/Globe investigations, DND project pages",
    "total_entries": 19,
    "total_documented_waste": 260000000000,
    "search_base": "https://search.open.canada.ca/contracts/?search_text="
  },
  "anomalies": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "Phoenix Pay System",
      "vendor": "IBM Canada",
      "department": "Treasury Board / Public Services",
      "original": 309000000,
      "final": 7500000000,
      "overrun_pct": 2327,
      "year": 2011,
      "flags": [
        "SOLE-SOURCE",
        "AMENDMENT"
      ],
      "outcome": "AG Finding",
      "source": "Auditor General Report 1 (2018)",
      "detail": "Pay system replacement that left 150,000+ public servants with incorrect pay. Stabilization alone cost $2.2B. Total lifecycle cost estimated at $7.5B+.",
      "search_vendor": "IBM"
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "ArriveCAN App",
      "vendor": "GC Strategies / Dalian / Coradix",
      "department": "CBSA / PHAC",
      "original": 2500000,
      "final": 54000000,
      "overrun_pct": 2060,
      "year": 2020,
      "flags": [
        "SOLE-SOURCE",
        "REVOLVING DOOR"
      ],
      "outcome": "Charges/RCMP",
      "source": "AG Report (2024), RCMP Investigation",
      "detail": "COVID border app. Two-person company GC Strategies received $19.1M as middleman. RCMP charged two individuals with fraud. CBSA failed basic contract management.",
      "search_vendor": "GC+Strategies",
      "rcmp_update": {
        "investigations": "6+ criminal investigations into federal contracting",
        "gc_strategies_total": "106 contracts, nearly $100M total (from $2.35M first contract)",
        "employees": "Two-person company — neither performs IT work, subcontracts everything for 15-30% fee",
        "home_search": "RCMP searched Kristian Firth home (April 2024)",
        "charges_status": "RCMP investigation ongoing — no formal charges laid as of April 2026 despite home search and office raid",
        "contempt_of_parliament": "Kristian Firth found in contempt of Parliament — first public admonishment of contractor in 100+ years",
        "credential_fraud": "IT executive testified to MPs that he inflated contractors work experiences in government records",
        "mental_health_defiance": "GC Strategies defied committee summons citing mental health concerns"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": 3,
      "name": "Trans Mountain Pipeline",
      "vendor": "Trans Mountain Corp (Crown)",
      "department": "Natural Resources Canada",
      "original": 5400000000,
      "final": 34200000000,
      "overrun_pct": 533,
      "year": 2018,
      "flags": [
        "AMENDMENT"
      ],
      "outcome": "PBO",
      "source": "Parliamentary Budget Office (2024)",
      "detail": "Government purchased pipeline for $4.5B, expansion ballooned to $34.2B. Sold at a loss. PBO found costs exceeded economic benefits.",
      "search_vendor": "Trans+Mountain"
    },
    {
      "id": 4,
      "name": "Canadian Surface Combatants (Type 26)",
      "vendor": "Irving Shipbuilding / BAE Systems",
      "department": "DND / Royal Canadian Navy",
      "original": 26200000000,
      "final": 84000000000,
      "overrun_pct": 221,
      "year": 2012,
      "flags": [
        "SOLE-SOURCE",
        "AMENDMENT"
      ],
      "outcome": "PBO",
      "source": "PBO Cost Estimate (2024), AG Reports",
      "detail": "15 frigates. Original budget $26.2B, PBO estimate now $84B. Design not finalized. First ship delivery delayed to 2030s. Single-source to Irving.",
      "search_vendor": "Irving+Shipbuilding"
    },
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "F-35 Fighter Jets",
      "vendor": "Lockheed Martin",
      "department": "DND / RCAF",
      "original": 19000000000,
      "final": 27700000000,
      "overrun_pct": 46,
      "year": 2010,
      "flags": [
        "SOLE-SOURCE"
      ],
      "outcome": "AG Finding",
      "source": "AG Report (2012), PBO Estimates",
      "detail": "AG found DND understated lifecycle costs by $10B+. Program cancelled, re-competed, then awarded to same vendor (Lockheed F-35) at higher price.",
      "search_vendor": "Lockheed+Martin"
    },
    {
      "id": 6,
      "name": "Site C Dam",
      "vendor": "BC Hydro (Crown)",
      "department": "BC Hydro",
      "original": 6600000000,
      "final": 16000000000,
      "overrun_pct": 143,
      "year": 2015,
      "flags": [
        "AMENDMENT"
      ],
      "outcome": "Provincial AG",
      "source": "BC Utilities Commission, AG Report",
      "detail": "Hydroelectric dam. Cost escalated from $6.6B to $16B. Geotechnical issues. Indigenous rights concerns. Power not needed for decades.",
      "search_vendor": "BC+Hydro"
    },
    {
      "id": 7,
      "name": "SDTC Green Slush Fund",
      "vendor": "Multiple (board-connected companies)",
      "department": "Innovation, Science and Economic Development",
      "original": 1000000000,
      "final": 1150000000,
      "overrun_pct": 15,
      "year": 2017,
      "flags": [
        "REVOLVING DOOR",
        "CONCENTRATION"
      ],
      "outcome": "AG Finding",
      "source": "AG Report (2024), Ethics Commissioner",
      "detail": "SDTC board members awarded $390M+ to companies they had financial interests in. AG found 186 separate conflicts of interest. $400M to their own companies. RCMP investigating. Ethics Commissioner found 90 violations.",
      "search_vendor": "SDTC",
      "ag_findings": {
        "conflicts_of_interest": 186,
        "money_to_own_companies": 400000000,
        "rcmp_investigating": true,
        "source": "Auditor General Report (2024)",
        "detail": "AG found 186 separate conflicts of interest. Liberal insiders appointed to run program gave $400M in taxpayer money to their own companies. RCMP investigating."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": 8,
      "name": "McKinsey Consulting",
      "vendor": "McKinsey & Company",
      "department": "Multiple (23+ departments)",
      "original": null,
      "final": 209000000,
      "overrun_pct": null,
      "year": 2015,
      "flags": [
        "SOLE-SOURCE",
        "CONCENTRATION"
      ],
      "outcome": "Parliamentary",
      "source": "House Committee on Government Operations (2023)",
      "detail": "McKinsey received $209M in federal contracts. Sole-sourced across 23+ departments. Senate investigation found no competitive process for most contracts.",
      "search_vendor": "McKinsey",
      "ag_findings": {
        "contracts": 97,
        "total_value": 209000000,
        "total_spent": 200000000,
        "non_competitive_failure": "18 of 19 contracts lacked required justification for non-competitive process",
        "departments_non_compliant": "9 of 10 departments failed to follow procurement policies",
        "crown_corps": "8 of 10 Crown corporations failed compliance",
        "revolving_door": "Dominic Barton: McKinsey Managing Director → Canada Ambassador to China → Liberal economic advisory chair",
        "source": "https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_202406_05_e_44492.html"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": 9,
      "name": "Sponsorship Scandal",
      "vendor": "Groupaction / Lafleur / Gosselin",
      "department": "Public Works",
      "original": null,
      "final": 332000000,
      "overrun_pct": null,
      "year": 1996,
      "flags": [
        "SOLE-SOURCE",
        "REVOLVING DOOR"
      ],
      "outcome": "Conviction",
      "source": "Gomery Commission (2005), Criminal Convictions",
      "detail": "$332M sponsorship program. $100M+ to Liberal-connected ad firms for little or no work. Multiple criminal convictions. Led to Federal Accountability Act.",
      "search_vendor": "Groupaction"
    },
    {
      "id": 10,
      "name": "Curam Benefits System",
      "vendor": "IBM / Deloitte",
      "department": "Employment and Social Development Canada",
      "original": null,
      "final": 5000000000,
      "overrun_pct": null,
      "year": 2009,
      "flags": [
        "AMENDMENT",
        "CONCENTRATION"
      ],
      "outcome": "Ongoing",
      "source": "AG Report, Parliamentary Committees",
      "detail": "Benefits delivery modernization. Estimated $5B+ total cost. Officials testified they 'don't know' the final cost. 15+ years in development.",
      "search_vendor": "Curam"
    },
    {
      "id": 11,
      "name": "Ontario PPE Procurement",
      "vendor": "Staples / Walmart",
      "department": "Ontario Government",
      "original": null,
      "final": null,
      "overrun_pct": 2500,
      "year": 2020,
      "flags": [
        "SOLE-SOURCE"
      ],
      "outcome": "AG Finding",
      "source": "Ontario AG Report (2022)",
      "detail": "COVID PPE purchased at up to 26x market price. Sole-sourced to retail chains. Ontario AG found $4.4B in pandemic spending lacked proper oversight.",
      "search_vendor": "PPE+procurement+Ontario"
    },
    {
      "id": 12,
      "name": "Shared Services Canada Data Centres",
      "vendor": "Multiple",
      "department": "Shared Services Canada",
      "original": 1300000000,
      "final": 2700000000,
      "overrun_pct": 108,
      "year": 2011,
      "flags": [
        "AMENDMENT",
        "CONCENTRATION"
      ],
      "outcome": "AG Finding",
      "source": "AG Report (2015, 2018)",
      "detail": "IT consolidation of 63 email systems, 485 data centres. Years behind schedule. Security vulnerabilities. Cost doubled.",
      "search_vendor": "Shared+Services+Canada"
    },
    {
      "id": 13,
      "name": "Long-Gun Registry",
      "vendor": "Multiple IT contractors",
      "department": "RCMP / Justice",
      "original": 2000000,
      "final": 2000000000,
      "overrun_pct": 99900,
      "year": 1995,
      "flags": [
        "AMENDMENT",
        "SOLE-SOURCE"
      ],
      "outcome": "AG Finding",
      "source": "AG Report (2002, 2006)",
      "detail": "Originally budgeted at $2M net cost. Final cost exceeded $2B. AG found 'ichotic' lack of oversight. Eventually scrapped in 2012.",
      "search_vendor": "firearms+registry"
    },
    {
      "id": 14,
      "name": "HMCS Chicoutimi Submarine",
      "vendor": "UK Ministry of Defence / Babcock",
      "department": "DND / Royal Canadian Navy",
      "original": 750000000,
      "final": 3400000000,
      "overrun_pct": 353,
      "year": 1998,
      "flags": [
        "SOLE-SOURCE",
        "AMENDMENT"
      ],
      "outcome": "AG Finding",
      "source": "AG Report, CBC Investigation",
      "detail": "4 used UK submarines purchased for $750M. One caught fire on delivery voyage, killing Lt. Chris Saunders. Refits cost $3.4B+. Still plagued with problems.",
      "search_vendor": "Victoria+class+submarine"
    },
    {
      "id": 15,
      "name": "eHealth Ontario",
      "vendor": "Multiple consultants",
      "department": "Ontario Health",
      "original": 1000000000,
      "final": 2000000000,
      "overrun_pct": 100,
      "year": 2009,
      "flags": [
        "SOLE-SOURCE",
        "REVOLVING DOOR"
      ],
      "outcome": "AG Finding",
      "source": "Ontario AG Report (2009)",
      "detail": "Electronic health records system. $1B spent with little to show. Consultants billed $3,000/day. CEO expensed $5M in untendered contracts to consultants.",
      "search_vendor": "eHealth+Ontario"
    },
    {
      "id": 16,
      "name": "Bombardier CSeries Bailout",
      "vendor": "Bombardier Inc.",
      "department": "Innovation Canada / Quebec",
      "original": null,
      "final": 4000000000,
      "overrun_pct": null,
      "year": 2015,
      "flags": [
        "CONCENTRATION"
      ],
      "outcome": "PBO",
      "source": "PBO Analysis, Parliamentary debate",
      "detail": "$4B+ in federal/provincial subsidies. Program sold to Airbus for $1. Quebec taxpayers lost entire investment. Executives collected $32.5M in bonuses during bailout.",
      "search_vendor": "Bombardier"
    },
    {
      "id": 17,
      "name": "SNC-Lavalin Deferred Prosecution",
      "vendor": "SNC-Lavalin Group",
      "department": "Justice / PMO",
      "original": null,
      "final": null,
      "overrun_pct": null,
      "year": 2019,
      "flags": [
        "REVOLVING DOOR",
        "CONCENTRATION"
      ],
      "outcome": "Conviction",
      "source": "Ethics Commissioner (2019), Court Records",
      "detail": "PMO pressured AG to grant deferred prosecution for fraud/bribery charges. PM found to have violated Conflict of Interest Act. SNC-Lavalin convicted of fraud.",
      "search_vendor": "SNC-Lavalin"
    },
    {
      "id": 18,
      "name": "WE Charity Scandal",
      "vendor": "WE Charity / ME to WE",
      "department": "Finance / PMO",
      "original": null,
      "final": 912000000,
      "overrun_pct": null,
      "year": 2020,
      "flags": [
        "SOLE-SOURCE",
        "REVOLVING DOOR"
      ],
      "outcome": "Parliamentary",
      "source": "Ethics Commissioner (2020), Finance Committee",
      "detail": "$912M student grant program sole-sourced to WE Charity. PM and Finance Minister had financial ties to WE. Both found in violation of ethics rules. Program cancelled.",
      "search_vendor": "WE+Charity"
    },
    {
      "id": 19,
      "name": "CH-146 Griffon Limited Life Extension (GLLE) pause",
      "vendor": "Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited",
      "department": "DND / PSPC",
      "original": 797556147,
      "final": null,
      "overrun_pct": null,
      "year": 2022,
      "contract_number": "W8475-205391/001/BF",
      "flags": [
        "PAUSE_PIVOT",
        "COMPLEXITY",
        "REPLACEMENT_FRAMING",
        "DISCLOSURE_GAP",
        "AWARD_DATE_CONFLICT"
      ],
      "outcome": "Active investigation",
      "source": "PSPC 2022-05-30; DCB project 2526; CanadaBuys W8475-205391; CBC 2026-06-27",
      "detail": "Contract W8475-205391/001/BF value class CAD 797,556,147. PSPC nearly $800M announce 30 May 2022; DCB says awarded April 2021 (date conflict). DCB objective bridges to Next Tactical Aviation Capability Set. June 2026 pause REPORTING. DND public project page still stale (2020-12-02 class). open.canada vendor search gap. Paid-to-date unknown.",
      "search_vendor": "Bell+Griffon",
      "investigation_page": "griffon-glle-procurement.html",
      "dossier": "data/griffon_glle_investigation.json",
      "contract_freeze": "data/osint_laps/glle_contract_number_freeze_2026-07-11.json"
    }
  ]
}