Evidence of meeting #109 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was company.
A video is available from Parliament.
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
You probably are, yes—that's a good observation—but you'd agree with me that Mr. Firth was front and centre during the rollout of the arrive scam app over the last several years. It wasn't you; it was Mr. Firth. Is that correct?
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Yes. He was the one who held all the relationships with the bureaucrats and government officials, such as deputy ministers and ministers. It was not you. Is that correct?
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
He was the one who was wining and dining potential contractors with government officials. That wasn't you, correct?
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
No. Literally everything to do with the ArriveCAN scam was flowed directly through Kristian Firth. It had none of your DNA on it. Is that fair to say?
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Right.
We heard yesterday from Kristian Firth—not only yesterday, but in previous testimony—that he's quite proud of the ArriveCAN scam. Are you equally proud?
2:30 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
Yes. I'm proud of the work that we were able to deliver.
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
The end result that resulted in extremely long delays at the borders, chaos and confusion at airports, the faulty glitchy part of the app that resulted in the illegal detention of 10,000 Canadians. Are you proud of those facts, Mr. Anthony, yes or no?
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Come on, Mr. Anthony. You read papers. You watch the news. Were you living under a rock for the last three years? Did you not experience the frustrations that millions of Canadians had at airports and border crossings? You want this committee to believe this lie that you have no knowledge of those basic facts? Come on. No one believes you. I certainly don't believe you.
Do you think Canadians got value for their money for the ArriveCAN scam?
2:30 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
We were asked to do a job for a price and we did it.
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
It was a price that was originally estimated at $80,000 and that multiplied 750 times to around $60 million. Is that, sir, value for the money?
2:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Of course you don't.
You were completely unable to answer relevant questions from numerous members of this committee. Will you ultimately answer questions that are put to you by the RCMP?
2:35 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
If the RCMP reaches out, I will co-operate with them.
2:35 p.m.
Conservative
2:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thank you.
We now go to Mr. Genuis, please, for five minutes, and then to Mr. Jowhari, Mrs. Vignola and Mr. Bachrach.
Go ahead, Mr. Genuis.
2:35 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Anthony, Botler executives have testified that Kristian Firth, your partner, bragged about having “dirt” on his friends who were senior government contracting officials. Has Mr. Firth ever told you that he has dirt on anyone?
2:35 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Does Mr. Firth have any dirt on you?