Evidence of meeting #50 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was security.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, IBISKA
I really cannot talk much about that, because we did not do the applications. We had no involvement in the applications, and I don't know how complicated the application is. The application is developed for other departments. It does takes much more time to do that.
That's all I can say, because I have no idea exactly what the application is. We do applications for other places, like ISED and DFAIT and other places. It does cost a lot of money.
Liberal
Lisa Hepfner Liberal Hamilton Mountain, ON
Does it take more time when you're trying to ensure the security and privacy of people's sensitive personal information?
Liberal
President, IBISKA
First of all, when the application is developed, obviously people have to do testing and they have to do verification. Then, obviously, they have to make sure that it actually meets all the criteria. Only then does the IT security specialist authorize security for the applications.
There are many different aspects of developing applications. I'm not that familiar with the business and I don't do it personally, but there are different components of developing those applications.
Liberal
Lisa Hepfner Liberal Hamilton Mountain, ON
Okay. Thank you, sir.
In our last meeting on this topic, we had a witness who said, quote, “Do not deliver public services through apps and app stores, full stop.”
From your experience of working on IT projects, what do you think about that statement? Do you think the government should have modern ways of providing government services or do you agree that we should never use an app?
President, IBISKA
Well, if you want to be a third world country, I guess you don't need any apps.
I can tell you one thing from my experience, our experience as a company. We do a lot of security business with the federal government, and Canada is one of the best countries in the world to have protective security for data. We can say that: one of the best, if not the best.
CSEC has actually put out the guidelines and all of this, which means that every department has to follow those rules. It all depends, you know.... Everything is available for individuals to do that, but it all depends on whether they have done it or not.
Lately the government has been very careful from the security point of view. Things are much more intensive nowadays, with the security check being done on every application, every system. Personally, I feel very confident that we are very secure.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Thank you, Mr. Khabra.
Mr. Villemure, you have the floor for six minutes.
Mr. Khabra, do you have your interpretation device on?
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, Mr. Khabra. Welcome and thank you for being here.
I'm going to pick up on some of the questions from my colleague to my right.
I'm going to summarize to see if I've understood.
Did your company sign an $8 million contract with the Canada Border Services Agency, yes or no?
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Right. So the answer is yes.
As part of this contract, $110,000 was spent for the ArriveCAN app, right?
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
As part of this contract, $110,000 was spent for the ArriveCAN app, right?
President, IBISKA
I think I need to increase the volume. I didn't hear that.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
The volume may have to go up.
I stopped the clock, Mr. Villemure.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Thank you.
Of the $8 million contract you were awarded, was $110,000 spent on the ArriveCAN app project? Yes or no?
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Okay.
Your contract required the government to spend $20,000 if it did not use the contract in question. Is that correct?
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
The terms of the contract with the government guaranteed you $20,000 if there was no further billing.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Okay.
You got the $8 million contract. Did you do anything other than the ArriveCAN app with that amount?
President, IBISKA
Yes. As I said, we have invoiced for approximately $1.4 million. The rest of the work is other than ArriveCAN.