"Moreover, external entities (the AFSA in this case) should not be part of the approval process for a public procurement by the government." Internal documents obtained by CBC News show the Alberta Funeral Service Association (AFSA) — which represents most, but not all, funeral homes in rural Alberta — rejected the contract, mainly due to the issue of fees. But Hourihan said Justice's handling of the contract procurement process was "poor" and gave the funeral services association an "inappropriate" level of influence. In a report released last month, Alberta public interest commissioner Peter Hourihan dismissed Sauvageau's allegation that the department's handling of the contract amounted to gross mismanagement of public funds. The auditor general found the stated reasons for needing the new contract had not been documented and there had been no financial analysis.

Source: CBC News July 05, 2016 17:48 UTC