Trade Tribunal: Procurement Complaints and Review

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published a set of notices from Canadian commissions about recent trade- and regulation-related actions. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal issued two findings on federal procurement complaints, opened an expiry review of certain thermoelectric warmers and coolers, and started an inquiry into a cleaning-services complaint; the page also included routine Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission postings and proposed charity revocations from the Canada Revenue Agency.

What it does#

• The Canadian International Trade Tribunal found a complaint by Newland Canada Corporation about a Department of Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC) hotel contract in Québec to be valid in part (decision dated July 22, 2024). The contract was for accommodation from May to August 2024 and was placed on behalf of the Department of National Defence.
• The Tribunal also found a complaint by Global Total Office about an office-furniture procurement by Department of National Defence valid in part (decision dated July 25, 2024). The complaint raised issues about how the solicitation was run, how bids were handled, and the cancellation of an awarded contract.
• The Tribunal opened an expiry review of its anti‑dumping/countervailing order on thermoelectric warmers and coolers from the People’s Republic of China, under the Special Import Measures Act. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) must decide whether expiry would likely lead to more dumping or subsidizing by December 24, 2024, and the Tribunal plans to issue its decision by June 2, 2025. The public hearing is scheduled to begin March 17, 2025, and groups wishing to participate were told to file by August 13, 2024.
• The Tribunal decided to hold an inquiry into a complaint by Evripos Janitorial Services Ltd. about a PWGSC cleaning and janitorial solicitation (decision to inquire dated July 31, 2024). The complaint centres on the rejection of Evripos’ bid because of its status under PWGSC’s Vendor Performance Corrective Measure Policy.
• The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission posted decisions, notices of consultation and administrative items (routine public listings and some radio licence decisions).
• The Canada Revenue Agency published notices that it intends to revoke the charitable registration of Jewish National Fund of Canada and Ne’eman Foundation Canada for failing to meet parts of the Income Tax Act (these are notices of proposed revocation).

Who's affected#

• Businesses that bid on federal contracts for hotels, office furniture, and cleaning/janitorial services — including the named complainants (Newland Canada Corporation, Global Total Office, Evripos Janitorial Services Ltd.) and other competing suppliers.
• PWGSC and the Department of National Defence, as contract administrators and buyers.
• Importers, wholesalers, and retailers of thermoelectric warmers and coolers made in the People’s Republic of China.
• Broadcasters and radio applicants who follow CRTC decisions and consultations.
• The two charities named and their donors if the CRA follows through with revocation.

Why it matters#

• Procurement findings that a complaint is “valid in part” can lead to contract re-evaluation, cancellations, re-tendering, or other fixes. That affects small and medium suppliers trying to win government business.
• The expiry review could keep or remove trade remedies (anti‑dumping or countervailing measures). If measures stay in place, importers may face continued duties, which can raise prices or change what products are available in Canada.
• The janitorial-services inquiry could change who gets a public contract in Ottawa and affect local service workers and businesses.
• CRTC postings and licence decisions affect local radio services and what listeners can receive.
• If the CRA revokes a charity’s registration, that group would lose the right to issue official tax receipts, and donors could no longer claim tax credits for donations — which can harm the charity’s funding and operations.