OTTAWA -- Newly released documents show federal auditors have found about $100 million that shouldn't have been paid to companies because contractors overcharged the government, or because the payments were deemed to be part of "excessive profits."
The $100 million figure, calculated as of March 31, 2015, was the cumulative total from three years of reviews of contracts that turned up evidence the government has been routinely overcharged by contractors.
The documents, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, show that more than 50 contracts reviewed by officials at Public Services and Procurement Canada turned up issues with, among others, Irving Shipbuilding and aerospace giant Bombardier.
A team of 34 auditors reviewed $7.3 billion worth of contracts during the 2014-15 fiscal year and found $6 million in over-payments for work and $66.3 million related to excess profits.
Officials censored portions of the documents detailing how much each company owes or has paid back, saying it is confidential commercial information.
Public Services and Procurement Canada has yet to respond to questions about the report.
