Evidence of meeting #112 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 cbsa.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
I've read the Auditor General's report.
1:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
The section there was around GC Strategies providing people.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
No, sir. The CBSA said that GC Strategies provided a proposal. The Auditor General confirmed that it did not.
The question is very simple: Why is the CBSA actively misleading the Auditor General in the performance of her role?
It really brings to mind the cosy relationship that GC Strategies had with the CBSA.
The second case in point is that there was a reference to a $25-million sole-sourced contract going to GC Strategies, and the CBSA invited GC Strategies to write their own contract. If that's not showing favouritism to GC Strategies, I don't know what is.
What was going on at the CBSA that allowed these highly irregular and suspicious contracting practices with Kristian Firth and Darren Anthony of GC Strategies?
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
As I've said before, that is not permitted under the rules and regulations, and if the—
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
It happened, and so—
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
That's what the investigation is considering.
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Surely, sir, you must have some suspicion.
Were you personally involved in allowing GC Strategies to do that?
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
I was not involved with GC Strategies at all.
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Are you prepared to name names, sir? Are you preparing to speak truth to power?
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
I am not protecting anybody. My understanding is that it's all being looked at as part of the investigation.
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
The investigator and the RCMP.
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Are you talking about Mr. Lafleur, the so-called independent investigator who reports to Ms. O’Gorman?
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
He's the internal investigator, just like—
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
The RCMP is independent and it is also looking at our process.
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Comptrollership Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
I am not aware of the status of that. What I am aware of is it has been longer than our normal standard operating procedures. Our service standards are 120 working days to complete an investigation. It has been longer than that.
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I can tell you that Canadian taxpayers are very disappointed in the operations of the CBSA, sir.
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
That is our time, gentlemen.
We'll go to Mr. Bains, please, for five minutes.