Evidence of meeting #112 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was kpmg.
A video is available from Parliament.
10:35 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Digital Health Transformation Practice, KPMG
KPMG has been doing business with the federal government for many years—
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I'm not asking that question.
In relation to the ArriveCAN app and its implementation, were you working with any ministries other than Public Health and the CBSA?
10:35 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Digital Health Transformation Practice, KPMG
For the Public Health Agency work we did, we were aware that there were ongoing discussions with other government departments as part of the operational implementation of the program. We were not contracted by...nor did we have any direct contracting or procurement-related discussions as they related to ArriveCAN to support that work.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Let's talk about the contracts. We've talked about the competitive contract that you were asked to bid on. We also know, through the Auditor General's report, that there were a number of non-competitive contracts that you were ultimately awarded.
Giving just the number, how many were competitive and how many were non-competitive?
10:35 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Digital Health Transformation Practice, KPMG
The initial TA was the competitive steps. That was the—
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
10:35 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Digital Health Transformation Practice, KPMG
That is correct for the Public Health Agency-related work.
10:35 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Digital Health Transformation Practice, KPMG
If I may add, there were two subsequent contracts directly awarded by the Public Health Agency to KPMG.
10:35 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Digital Health Transformation Practice, KPMG
That's correct. They were directed to us.
10:35 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Cybersecurity, KPMG
Thank you.
For the work we did on the cybersecurity front, there were two contracts that were with GC Strategies. There were no direct contracts with the CBSA.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
They were non-competitive as well. Is that correct?
You weren't bidding against other companies. You were asked to work with GC Strategies, so it was a non-competitive contract.
10:35 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Cybersecurity, KPMG
We were asked to submit a proposal to GC Strategies—
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
There were two with the CBSA and two with PHAC—that's four—and one was competitive. They were for $5 million.
How many employees at KPMG worked on those five contracts for $5 million?
10:40 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Digital Health Transformation Practice, KPMG
I don't have the number off the top of my head, but I can say that over the close to two and a half years that we supported the Public Health Agency, we had a number of people. I was the engagement partner, but we had a number of people. On the original TA, we might have had 10 or 15 people who were identified and participated in some initial stakeholder engagement.
As time went on, we had—
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Let's move on to the issue now that you were directed by the CBSA to work directly with GC Strategies. You indicated, sir, when pressed, that it was Mr. Antonio Utano who did that.
Is that right?
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Did he reach out directly to you or to another partner?
10:40 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Cybersecurity, KPMG
Mr. Utano reached out to our federal government practice.
10:40 a.m.
Partner and National Leader, Cybersecurity, KPMG
KPMG has a number of industry specialists—