There is no indication Public First, a small London, UK, based policy and research company that was founded in 2016, has expertise in municipal strategy development or knowledge of Windsor’s (or Southwestern Ontario’s) landscape and community dynamics.
It is a controversial firm that specializes in developing Conservative education policy and has exceedingly close ties to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Education Secretary Michael Gove.
Were any established Canadian consultants with expertise in municipal strategy development and at least a working familiarity with Southwestern Ontario considered for Windsor's consulting project? And if so, what does Public First offer that a Canadian firm cannot provide?
- The project was led by Rachel Wolf, a founding partner. Ms. Wolf co-authored the Conservative Party’s Election Manifesto in 2019. She made headlines in 2010 after the charity the then 25-year old was running was awarded an untendered £500,000 grant by Mr. Gove’s Education Department. Ms. Wolf previously worked for Mr. Gove as an advisor.
- The project was supported by Blair Gibbs, a cannabis policy expert. Mr. Gibbs was an advisor to the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson until September 2020. Like Ms. Wolf, municipal strategy development expertise is not evident. Although currently located in Vancouver, he has spent almost his entire life in the UK.
- Three months before Mr. Gibbs’ five-day visit to Windsor in October 2020, Public First was awarded an untendered £840,000 contract by Mr. Johnson’s Cabinet. This was confirmed after a conflict of interest investigation by the British National Audit Office.
Were any established Canadian consultants with expertise in municipal strategy development and at least a working familiarity with Southwestern Ontario considered for Windsor's consulting project? And if so, what does Public First offer that a Canadian firm cannot provide?
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