Feds reviewing Indigenous procurement policies following ArriveCan revelations

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu said Tuesday the federal government is reviewing its procurement policies to determine who can claim to be Indigenous when bidding for federal contracts set aside for First Nations, Metis and Inuit people.

«It's really complicated, actually. Defining who is Indigenous is challenging in some cases,» Hajdu said.

Hajdu's department is responsible for auditing some Indigenous companies contracted to provide services to the federal government.

Her comments come as questions continue to swirl around the COVID-era ArriveCan app that tracked travellers in an era of pandemic restrictions.

«We're working with Indigenous partners to think through a better way, perhaps even at some point turning over maintenance of the list to Indigenous partners,» the minister said, referring to the Indigenous Business Directory.

That directory includes a list of Indigenous companies eligible for special consideration when bidding on some federal contracts.

As part of a reconciliation push, the government has been trying to allocate more of its business to Indigenous-owned firms and Indigenous contractors.

Ottawa has said it wants a minimum of 5 per cent of federal contracts to be awarded to Indigenous businesses — contracts worth billions of dollars.

«There are sometimes people on the list that other Indigenous people may dispute. We're trying to work through how to do this,» Hajdu said. «Indigeneity — this is a difficult concept.»

Auditor General Karen Hogan released a damning report earlier this month that pointed to a number of irregularities in the contracting process for that app.

The RCMP is investigating matters «relating to certain employers and contractors,» the AG said.

In a statement sent to CBC News, the