Bob Mackin
Premier David Eby’s office gave $136,000 in no-bid contracts to a diversity consultant and two NDP insiders around last year’s election.
The three, short-term contracts were for “business intelligence consulting services,” but an official in Eby’s office has not disclosed what the contractors actually did for taxpayers’ money.
Mike Magee (left) and Mayor Gregor Robertson. Birds of a feather, hide email together. (Twitter)
Vanessa Richards, a presenter at the Hollyhock Centre on Cortes Island who specializes in community engagement, civic imagination, and diversity and inclusion, began a $43,480 contract Aug. 19, 2024 and ended Sept. 19, 2024..
Eby began his election tour on Sept. 20. Oct. 19 was election day.
Convergence Communications and Trevor McKenzie-Smith were hired between Oct. 29 and Nov. 18, for $52,627.02 and $39,600, respectively.
Convergence co-owner Mike Magee is a longtime NDP strategist who was chief of staff to Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson from 2008 to 2016.
McKenzie-Smith is listed on the website for NDP pollster Strategic Communications as vice-president of research and engagement. But Olivia Watson, Stratcom’s business development and marketing manager, told theBreaker.news that McKenzie-Smith “hasn’t worked at Stratcom since July 2024.”
Government procurement rules require contracts worth $10,000 or more in goods and $75,000 or more in services be advertised. Direct awards are allowed, if a contractor is uniquely qualified, the ministry urgently needs goods or services or the acquisition confidential or privileged.
“Direct awards must not be used for the purpose of avoiding competition,” the rules state.
None of the contractors responded for comment.
theBreaker.news asked for the scope of work and deliverables for each contract, but Eby’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Aileen Machell, did not fulfil the request.
Machell did say that Eby’s office works with external consultants “on matters that are not part of routine government operations.”
“The work covered by the three contracts includes facilitation, organizational development, and transition services,” Machell said. “Convergence Communications has an ongoing contract with the Premier’s Office for strategic consulting services. Vanessa Richards provides professional development services. Trevor McKenzie-Smith was contracted to provide advice during transition.”
Public accounts for the year ended March 31, 2024 show Convergence Communications Inc. billed taxpayers $122,444 and Strategic Communications $273,198.
NEW: Subscribe to theBreaker.news on Substack. Find out how: Click here.
