Evidence of meeting #108 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 contract.
A video is available from Parliament.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
12:40 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
I'm sorry. You'll have to repeat the question. Right now, I'm confused about what you're asking me. I'm sorry.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Basically, what the Auditor General and the ombudsman stated is that you were participating in the design of the mandatory bid criteria, and the argument is that this would have favoured GC Strategies. I want to ask how often you participate in the design of mandatory bid criteria.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
The Auditor General and the procurement ombudsman stated that you were a participant in designing the bid criteria that may have favoured GC Strategies. Can you address that particular issue?
12:45 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
What I can say and what I'm prepared to say is that the ePortal system from PSPC identified through those mandatory criteria that there were still 40 qualified vendors that could go after this. It doesn't sound like it's overly restrictive if there are 40 vendors that can go after this.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
You can understand, Mr. Firth, that we're concerned that a vendor was actually working with either the CBSA or Public Services and Procurement Canada to design the bid itself. That seems sort of like inside baseball.
I want you to address that charge. That seems very serious to me, because it has the potential to reduce competition.
12:45 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
All I can say is that there was no bid rigging involved at all in the fourth COVID contract.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Okay. There is one other question I want to ask you to clarify.
My colleagues across the table often refer to GC Strategies as two guys in a basement who do no work and who received $11 million in contracts. Can you clarify what the role of a staffing agency is and respond to that charge that it's two guys in a basement who do no work?
12:45 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
First of all, it's two guys in a staffing agency, but they're also two business owners. The amount of work is actually double compared to just being an employee. We're doing security clearances. We're recruiting. We're meeting with partners. We're networking with independent subcontractors, understanding what they do. We're preparing our fees. We're writing our fees. We're working with all these people to contribute and do bid responses. We do invoicing.
Those are just a few things. It's a full-time job. We're here to provide resources to the federal government. Again, until procurements change and go direct, that's our role.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
You assemble the people who do the work. Is that correct? That is your job. You assemble the people who do the work.
12:45 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
That's correct. There can be staff augmentation, where it's one person for a project, or it can be a requirement for a team of resources.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
I'm sorry. We're past our time, Mr. Kusmierczyk.
Mr. Barrett, go ahead, please.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Each time we have a round of questions with you, it seems like there's a lot of cleanup afterwards.
I have to go back to the question Mrs. Block asked you: Who were your contacts with the government, at the following departments and agencies: the CBSA; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; and Employment and Social Development Canada? Are you telling us that you don't know the answers to that question, or is your answer that you're refusing to provide us with the information that you have?
12:45 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
No, not at all. Actually, I think my answer was that I will provide those to you in writing after this meeting. That's exactly what I said.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Do you know the answer? My question is this: Do you know—
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Then provide it, sir.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
I think that you have a grave misunderstanding of how this process works, and your refusal to answer questions here is a contempt of Parliament. That is something we can take up. I know that you take great umbrage at the fact that a subpoena had to be issued and that, had you not appeared today, a warrant would have been issued and you would have been arrested and brought before this committee. You're here very much not because you want to be forthcoming but because you're under the threat of arrest.
That's what we're dealing with in trying to get answers from you, so you'll have to excuse me if I don't believe you, sir, that you're going to bring us the answers after the cameras go off and the committee is adjourned. In the first back-and-forth that you and I had, you admitted to having perjured yourself in a previous appearance at this committee, so I have to go back and talk about that again.
You admitted to meeting officials in private residences, and you exposed your own lie, so I need to know this: What are the names of government officials you have met with anywhere outside of government offices? I want just the names.
12:45 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
First of all, I want to address the first thing you said, that I don't want to be here because I don't want to be arrested.... I don't want to be here because my family, my kids and I have been threatened, and people.... That's the real reason that I don't want to be here—
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Sir, the question is very straightforward. It's for a list of names.
12:45 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
Yes, which I'm happy to give you, and I'm admitting I will give you those within 24 hours after the testimony.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
I don't believe you.
Did you ever meet with Philippe Johnston in a private residence or any place other than a government office?