Feds spent $4.8 million on unused Microsoft licences, with more costs undisclosed
Departments did not disclose costs for nearly 20,000 of the unused subscriptions, so the actual bill remains unclear.
Federal departments purchased more than 53,000 Microsoft licences and subscriptions that went unused, costing taxpayers at least $4.8 million, according to government records reviewed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
The actual bill remains unclear because departments did not disclose costs for nearly 20,000 of those unused subscriptions.
The findings come from a government response to an order paper question submitted by MP Adam Chambers, who requested details about Microsoft licences purchased over the previous year and how many remained unused.
“I understand forgetting about a few trial subscriptions, but how do these bureaucrats forget about 50,000 subscriptions?” said CTF federal director Franco Terrazzano.
Departments reported spending $4.8 million on 33,213 unused licences and subscriptions. Another 19,860 went unused without their costs being disclosed, according to the CTF.
Statistics Canada reported the largest disclosed spending total: nearly $1.2 million for 2,608 unused subscriptions.
That included $1,746 for 25 Teams Phone Standard subscriptions purchased for a pilot project. None were used. Asked why, an agency spokesperson told the CTF: “Technical challenges were encountered.”
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reported the highest number of unused licences, with 7,443 costing taxpayers $138,500.
Employment and Social Development Canada spent $68,940 on 150 Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro subscriptions without using any. The department did not respond to the CTF’s request for an explanation.
The Canada Revenue Agency reported 4,588 unused subscriptions but withheld their cost. It also did not respond to the federation’s questions.
Other disclosures left significant gaps. National Defence did not identify the subscription types it purchased, while Transport Canada did not disclose how many licences were unused.
Shared Services Canada reported spending approximately $27 million on Microsoft subscriptions without disclosing how many it purchased or used. That spending was not identified as entirely unused.
“Taxpayers are paying for all these subscriptions so departments need to be fully transparent and show taxpayers the bill,” Terrazzano said.
Sheila Gunn Reid
Chief Reporter
Sheila Gunn Reid is the Editor-in-Chief, Alberta Bureau Chief, member of the board of directors, and host of The Gunn Show at Rebel News. Sheila also serves as President of the Independent Press Gallery of Canada. A mother of three and longtime conservative activist, Sheila is the author of bestselling books, including her most recent release, Independence Blueprint: What Alberta Can Learn From Quebec.
https://mybook.to/sheila
