Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains says he is in frequent contact with Palantir Canada president David MacNaughton, but did not say whether MacNaughton or his company has worked with the federal government on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bains made the comments to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Innovation, Science and Technology on Thursday after The Logic reported MacNaughton, the former ambassador to the U.S. and counselor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, told a private event last week that the controversial data-mining firm was doing pro bono work with Ottawa and three provinces on their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, spokespeople for Health Minister Patty Hajdu and her department said they were unaware of any work or discussions with Palantir, and that the federal government had not entered into any contracts with the company as part of its antiviral efforts.