A firm hired by Ottawa to manage a program to compensate the side effects of the vaccination against the COVVI-19 costs twice as much in administrative costs than to the amounts sent to the victims, an “unacceptable” situation in the eyes of the responsible minister.
In 2021, the government of Justin Trudeau set up the victims’ support program (PSVV) to compensate victims of injuries related to COVVI-19 vaccines.
To manage the PSVV, Ottawa launches a tender that will be won by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Consulting, which became Oxaro in 2023.
Twice the amount
Between 2021 and on July 16, Oxaro said it had used $ 36.3M for the program administrative costs, double money ($ 18.1M) paid in compensation and support for victims.
After an exhaustive investigation recently published by Global News, the Federal Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel, suggested that the contract may not be renewed.
“It is unacceptable what we heard about it, and all the options are on the table,” she said on the sidelines of a press conference on Monday.
The company based in downtown Ottawa has received $ 54M so far, and the contract, which ends next year, has a maximum limit of $ 65.2M.
Pending victims
For months, Global News has spoken to many people awaiting an answer as well as former firm employees.
Some 3,700 compensation requests have been sent to the PSVV, while 1,700 people are still awaiting a response, even if the Canada Public Health Agency promises “just financial support within reasonable deadlines”.
However, a former employee told Global, under the guise of anonymity, that the Oxaro offices looked like a real school courtyard where the employees were soft around the sloche machine and the ping-pong table.
That said, the PSVV is a program that requires specific expertise. Each complaint must be examined by doctors and the medical file of each applicant has screened.
Quebec is the only province to have its own compensation program for victims of a vaccination since 1985. Complaints are not managed by Oxaro.
The company did not respond to our request for comments.