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.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
While you're agreeing now, you disagreed before.
Sir, both in documents and in testimony, we now know that you, sir, in fact provided hospitality to Government of Canada officials on multiple occasions, and you lied about it—
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
But you lied about it to the committee.
If you're content that everything was well within the bounds, if you've acted above board, my question to you, sir, is this. Why is it that every time you come to this committee you lie to parliamentarians and you lie to Canadians?
March 13th, 2024 / 12:50 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
I'm telling the truth. I have met with all of those people outside of work in a hospitality manner.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thank you, Mr. Barrett.
Mr. Sousa is next, please, for five minutes.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Chair, on a point of order, there were a number of instances, obviously, during Mr. Barrett's questions in which the witness point-blank refused to answer questions. I wonder if you, as chair, on behalf of the committee, can direct the witness to provide answers to the questions that were asked.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Mr. Firth, I think there were a couple that you said you had but would not provide at this time and were going to wait until later to provide for us.
12:50 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
That was just the information for the resources of Canadian officials for those certain departments. I'm providing those within 24 hours.
12:50 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
The contacts, yes. I'm not saying no to any of these questions. I'm just saying I will provide them after.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
I guess the question is, do you have that information now with you?
12:50 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
I don't have the information with me right now. That's part of the reason why I'm asking for 24 hours to collect it.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Chair, that is not what the witness said. The witness said in fact that with the way the meeting “is going”, he wasn't prepared to provide them in public, so if—
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Yes.
Mr. Firth, I heard, “I have the information but I'm not going to provide it right now. I'll provide it later in writing,” which is different from, “I don't have the information now.”
I think you need to be very, very clear with your answers and say, “I don't have this information available to me now; I'll provide it later,” or, “I am not willing to provide it at this time.”
12:50 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
Thank you, Chair. I'll clarify what I'm saying.
I have the information, not with me at the present, and I will provide it within 24 hours, because I need to collect it.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thanks, Mr. Firth. I realize this is difficult. I would ask that you take your time to clarify these things carefully.
Mr. Sousa, go ahead, please.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Firth, are you aware of cases of bid rigging in the past?
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
In 2009, there were charges of bid rigging between some firms in Ottawa. Was Veritaaq one of them?
12:55 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
I think it was one of five firms with bid-rigging associations. I think so.
I think there have been two cases. I think there was a previous one with TPG, and I think there was another one. In all of the time since 2003, I think there have been only two cases of bid-rigging.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
Were you approached by the Auditor General during her review?
12:55 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
I was emailed to give comment on the pieces that involved GC Strategies, which we responded to.