Trade Tribunal: Translation Complaint Dismissed; Steel Redetermination

Summary#

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal published two notices. On June 23, 2020 it dismissed a complaint by Nations Translation Group Inc. (NTGI) about the evaluation of its translation test in a Parks Canada procurement (File No. PR-2019-071, Solicitation No. 5P004-190022/A). On June 26, 2020 the Tribunal issued a redetermination (Inquiry No. NQ-2016-004R) about certain fabricated industrial steel components after the Federal Court of Appeal set aside parts of its earlier decision of May 25, 2017 (court decision dated February 28, 2020).

What it does#

• For the translation-services procurement:
  • The Tribunal reviewed the complaint by Nations Translation Group Inc. about how its translation exam was graded.
  • It concluded the complaint was not valid and did not change the procurement outcome.
• For the fabricated industrial steel components:
  • The Tribunal reopened and re-ran part of Inquiry No. NQ-2016-004 and issued a redetermination (now NQ-2016-004R) under the Special Import Measures Act.
  • This followed the Federal Court of Appeal setting aside part of the Tribunal’s earlier decision from May 25, 2017.
  • The Gazette notice does not give details of how the Tribunal’s finding changed in the redetermination.

Who's affected#

• Bidders and suppliers in federal translation contracts, including Nations Translation Group Inc. and other companies that competed for Solicitation No. 5P004-190022/A.
• The Department of Public Works and Government Services and the Parks Canada Agency, which ran the procurement.
• Companies involved in the original steel inquiry and exclusion requests: Fluor Canada Ltd., Suncor Energy Inc., Fort Hills Energy L.P., and LNG Canada Development Inc.
• Steel fabricators, importers, and Canadian buyers who supply or use the types of industrial steel components covered by Inquiry No. NQ-2016-004R.
• Legal and trade observers who watch how import remedies and product exclusions are applied.

Why it matters#

• The translation decision reinforces that the Tribunal found no fault in how one federal procurement evaluated a technical test. That matters to firms that bid on government contracts — it affects their confidence in challenge processes and their chance to win work.
• The redetermination on steel components could change whether certain imported parts are subject to duties or allowed as exclusions. That can affect project costs and supply choices for companies in energy, construction, and heavy industry.
• Both notices are formal steps in trade and procurement oversight. The Gazette entries mainly flag outcomes; they do not fully explain the legal or technical details in the redetermination.