The Globe and Mail in its Monday edition asks how a tough-on-crime federal government water down controversial supplier integrity rules without appearing soft on corruption. The Globe's Barrie McKenna writes the easy answer is to quietly make the changes in the summer, when Parliament is not sitting and Canadians are not paying attention. A key cabinet committee recently approved a new "integrity framework" after widespread complaints that its strict 10-year ban on suppliers convicted of corruption anywhere in the world is too tough. A government spokesman said Ottawa would be making an announcement "in the coming weeks." Business groups are anxious to see changes in place as soon as possible. A tougher regime introduced last year by Public Works and Government Services Canada has become a quagmire, both for the government and businesses. The rules put at risk billions of dollars worth of federal contracts and endangered its relationship with several key suppliers, including SNC-Lavalin, Hewlett Packard, IBM Canada, Brookfield Asset Management and Siemens AG. The threat of banishment has fanned uncertainty throughout Ottawa's vast network of suppliers. The government promised action in its April budget.