Seventeen private-sector employees are working on loan at the federal Major Projects Office, with their companies covering their salaries and benefits, CBC News reports.

A document provided to the House of Commons environment committee and obtained by CBC lists workers from banks, railways and energy businesses. The Toronto Star first reported the staffing arrangements.

The office, a key initiative of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, was established to speed up permitting for projects considered to be in the national interest. Projects referred to it include a proposed oil pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast.

Four of the private-sector workers come from Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank of Canada. CN Rail and CPKC have each loaned one employee. Energy companies on the list include ATCO EnPower, TC Energy and TransAlta.

Pembina Pipeline Corporation, which holds a 10 per cent stake in the West Coast pipeline project, has also loaned one worker. No company has provided more than two employees, according to the document.

Another two dozen employees have been seconded from other institutions, including federal departments and provincial and territorial governments.

Secondments into federal organizations are not new, CBC noted. A briefing note obtained by the broadcaster says participating companies will cover all salary and benefit costs for their employees while they work at the office.

The arrangements drew questions from Conservative MPs at a parliamentary committee last week. Major Projects Office CEO Dawn Farrell and Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said private-sector secondees must follow government conflict-of-interest rules and would not work on projects in which their parent companies have an interest.

Asked about releasing the companies’ names, LeBlanc warned against casting aspersions on the businesses or employees, saying disclosure could create an “artificial, fabricated gotcha moment.”

Sources