Damning Federal Audit Exposes Government’s Gross Negligence; ABPA Demands Immediate Support of National Procurement Authority

Press Release

October 9, 2025 – Robinson-Superior Treaty, Fort William First Nation Territory, Thunder Bay, Ontario: In the wake of a scathing federal audit exposing the government’s abject failure to manage Indigenous procurement, the Anishnawbe Business Professional Association (ABPA) is demanding an end to federal inaction. The audit confirms years of warnings about systemic fraud and government incompetence, yet a fully-formed, First Nations-led solution—the First Nations Procurement Authority (FNPA)—has been ignored.

The government’s gross mismanagement has allowed fraudulent actors to divert opportunities from legitimate Indigenous businesses, making a mockery of its commitments to economic reconciliation. The ABPA asserts that the time for government-led, failed approaches is over; the only credible path forward is the immediate support and implementation of the FNPA.

“The government feigns shock at this audit’s findings, yet they have had discussions with First Nations leaders throughout the last few years,” stated Jason Rasevych, President, ABPA. “This isn’t a lack of solutions; it’s a deliberate refusal to implement one. Their inaction allows the fraud to continue, undermining legitimate First Nations businesses daily. This is a profound betrayal of their duty and their promises of reconciliation.”

The FNPA is designed as a catalyst for systemic change, built on a foundation of integrity and partnership:

1. Airtight Integrity: Its cornerstone is the adoption of the consensus-based National Indigenous Procurement Working Group (NIPWG) definitions to verify businesses. This provides a clear, defensible national standard that directly mitigates the risk of fraud and “black-cladding”.

1. Indigenous Data Sovereignty: The entire model is grounded in the First Nations principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession). This guarantees ethical data stewardship and ensures First Nations control their own information— a commitment a government-led model cannot make.

3. A True Partnership: The FNPA is designed to amplify, not replace, the federal mandate. It acts as a Centre of Excellence to help federal departments meet their 5% procurement target with efficiency and integrity, turning a compliance mandate into a nation-building engine.

3. Immediate Operational Impact: The plan includes the clear, actionable objective of assuming administration of the federal Indigenous Business Directory (IBD) within its first year, aligning it with the robust NIPWG standards.

The time for studies, consultations, and empty promises is over. In light of this damning audit and the existence of a clear, actionable plan, the ABPA demands that Minister of Indigenous Mandy Gull-Masty, and Minister of Public Services and Procurement Joël Lightbound immediately fund the plan, transfer the IBD, and let First Nations fix the system your government has broken.

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About the ABPA:

The Anishnawbe Business Professional Association (www.anishnawbebusiness.com) is a non-profit, member-based organization based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. ABPA serves the First Nation business community within Treaty #3, Treaty#5, Treaty #9 and Robinson Huron and Superior Treaty Areas. The ABPA develops and expresses positions on business issues and other public issues relevant to First Nation business, on behalf of its members.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Jason Rasevych, President, Anishnawbe Business Professional Association, jrasevych@waawoono.ca, 807-357-5320

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