Defence Minister Anita Anand’s husband’s company emerged on top over 18 other bids to get a COVID-19 contract, says Blacklock’s Reporter..But cabinet said Anand played no role in the award..“A total of nineteen companies submitted bids,” cabinet said in an Inquiry Of Ministry tabled in the Commons..Anand was never involved nor informed “directly or indirectly of any discussions, dealing or decisions regarding the contract,” wrote staff..Anand’s husband John Knowlton is senior managing partner with a pension fund investor Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System and director of its subsidiary LifeLabs. The LifeLabs division has received multiple contracts worth millions since Anand was elected to Parliament in 2019..The Minister “was not involved in any direct or indirect exchanges or decisions regarding the LifeLabs contract,” said the Inquiry. “The contract approval was delegated to the Minister of Employment.”.“The Minister was not consulted, not made aware of any modifications nor was she involved in any direct or indirect exchanges or decisions regarding this contract or LifeLabs,” wrote staff. The company was hired to manage COVID-19 test kits for foreign travelers arriving in Canada..Records show LifeLabs last June 23 was awarded an initial contract worth $66,307,424. Weeks afterward on August 20 it received a separate $1.9 million contract. Anand at the time was Minister of Public Works, the federal department that manages civilian contracting for the Government of Canada..The department subsequently told The Canadian Press that LifeLabs was paid up to $111 million for testing services in Yukon, British Columbia and Saskatchewan..“Minister Anand has fulfilled her disclosure obligations with the Ethics Commissioner,” press aide Daniel Minden said earlier..Anand’s husband Knowlton is a former lawyer with Torys LLP of Toronto and ex-counsel for Bombardier Transportation. “He is a member of the board of directors of LifeLabs,” the company confirmed..Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion in 2020 released a Public Declaration by Anand that acknowledged her husband’s role as an executive with Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System. The document made no mention of LifeLabs.
