Privy Council Office Criticized for Multi-Million Dollar Consultant Spending
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has exposed significant expenditures by the Privy Council Office (PCO) on external consultants, despite the department already employing hundreds of staff to perform similar work. According to access-to-information records obtained by the CTF, the PCO spent close to $17.5 million on professional services in 2025, with $5.8 million allocated specifically to marketing, communications, financial, and strategy-related consulting and contractors.
Contradiction to In-House Resources
This spending occurred while the PCO maintained a budget of approximately $40 million to compensate about 320 staff employed in comparable roles. Franco Terrazzano, CTF federal director, criticized this duplication, stating, "It doesn't make sense for taxpayers to pay bureaucrats to do a job and then pay consultants to do the same job." The CTF argues this contradicts Prime Minister Mark Carney's commitment to reduce external government spending and address wasteful practices.
Breakdown of Consultant Contracts
Of the $5.8 million spent on consultants, a substantial portion went to specific firms:
- EssenceMediacom: $3.1 million was paid under a multi-departmental advertising contract for work on various Canadian trade agreements between August and March.
- Audiovisual consulting service: $641,400, despite the PCO spending nearly $1 million annually on in-house multimedia staff.
- M5: $497,500 to this Atlantic Canada-based marketing agency.
- Graybridge International Consulting Inc.: $35,775 for designing and delivering professional courses and workshops.
Questionable Additional Expenditures
The CTF also highlighted other PCO spending that raised concerns about fiscal responsibility:
- $386,700 on furniture.
- $136,290 at the Pan Pacific Toronto hotel (now Crowne Plaza Toronto – North York).
- $12,900 on a yoga teacher based outside Montreal, with the CTF noting comparable classes could have been found locally or online for less cost.
- $3,975 for a supplier of licensed products such as coins, swords, plaques, and crests.
- $4,665 on artwork.
- $20,400 at Ottawa Executive Limousine.
- $2,500 on professional caregivers.
- $1,300 to Ottawa-based consultant Wisdom Streak, operated by self-described "productivity ninja-meets-life coach-meets-executive assistant" Maddie Morris. Terrazzano remarked, "Spending $1,300 on a 'productivity ninja' didn't make Ottawa more productive."
Broader Context and Criticism
The PCO, as a central institution supporting the prime minister, cabinet members, and government policy coordination, is under scrutiny for these expenses. The CTF contends that Carney's Liberal government continues to rely too heavily on contractors, undermining promises to curb wasteful spending. This report follows other CTF criticisms of government spending, including increased hospitality bills in the Senate.
Terrazzano emphasized the inefficiency, saying, "The PCO already has hundreds of communications and research bureaucrats and then it spends millions getting consultants and contractors to do their homework." The findings suggest a need for greater transparency and accountability in how public funds are allocated, especially when in-house resources are already available.
