Multiple outlets report that new procurement measures are being introduced to address so-called “black cladding”—a term used to describe companies that claim to be Indigenous-run or Indigenous-owned to access set-aside government business programs. The measures focus on stricter quotas and related requirements aimed at ensuring only eligible First Nations businesses benefit from procurement opportunities intended for Indigenous enterprises.
While the articles describe the issue as one of misrepresentation or “pretending” to qualify, they do not provide detailed figures in the excerpts provided. The reporting indicates the policy response is designed to strengthen oversight around eligibility and reduce the ability for non-Indigenous firms to present themselves as meeting First Nations business criteria.
Across sources, the central point is that the government is implementing tighter rules in procurement processes to better target programs for First Nations businesses and improve the integrity of Indigenous business quotas. All outlets frame the change as a compliance and verification effort rather than a dispute over particular contracts in the cited material.
