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Indigenous

Canada’s Indigenous contracting program funnels billions to Ottawa-area firms

Businesses in western provinces with large Indigenous populations largely shut out

Patti Sonntag
Patti Sonntag

3 Nov 2025 • 6 min read

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A teepee and one of the Parliament buildings are silhouetted against the sky during a protest in Ottawa in 2021.
A protest on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in 2021. Most contracts intended for Indigenous businesses across the country have gone to Ottawa-area firms. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Patti Sonntag
Patti Sonntag

Patti Sonntag is a Parliament Hill investigative journalist specializing in data-driven and collaborative reporting. Investigations she has led or conducted independently have received more than 30 honours.

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