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The Government of Canada’s Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC) department has a strong framework in place to support accountability and integrity in its procurement and real property transactions that includes policies, procedures, and governance measures to ensure fairness, openness, and transparency. Numerous measures have been put in place that demonstrate a commitment to doing business with companies and individuals that respect the law and act with integrity. Under its integrity framework, PWGSC, on behalf of the Government of Canada, cannot enter into a contract, a real property transaction, or accept bids from individuals or companies that have been convicted of defined list of offences. Furthermore, PWGSC may terminate a contract or lease should a conviction occur during its duration. In July 2012, this list of offences was expanded to include: money laundering; participation in activities of criminal organizations; income and excise tax evasion; bribing a foreign public official; and offences in relation to drug trafficking. For the first time, PWGSC also applied its integrity provisions to all real property transactions (which includes leasing agreements for all uses, letting of commercial crown-owned space and the acquisition and disposal of crown-owned properties). In November 2012, PWGSC removed leniency as an exemption which allowed an applicant to come forward, cooperate, and plead guilty in exchange for lenient treatment in sentencing. Given the seriousness of the infractions identified in the integrity provisions, PWGSC no longer does business with individuals and companies found guilty of these offences, unless exceptional circumstances require it for the public interest.
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