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.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Okay.
Were you contacted by any other departments?
Partner, GC Strategies
It was only by those people who we had as resources remaining in there. We actually removed the resources from that project.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
On what dates were you contacted by other departments?
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Give it by 5:00, please.
In the lead-up to these changes, were you in discussions with government officials? Did you have any conversations about the possible suspension?
Partner, GC Strategies
Yes, I had a conversation with a gentleman from PSPC in which I indicated that I actually was going to terminate my security before it was suspended. When you have no government contracts, it's kind of hard to get....
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Who were you in touch with at PSPC? What was the gentleman's name?
Partner, GC Strategies
I think his name was Nolan. Nolan was his first name. I can't remember his last name; I'm sorry.
Belleville was his last name. Nolan was his first name.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Okay.
Could you give us dates for those discussions?
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
What does the GC in GC Strategies stand for?
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Okay. Government of Canada Strategies is the full name.
Did you discuss your testimony today with anybody from the government?
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
You'll confirm that—that you didn't have any discussions with anyone.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Sir, I want to give you one more chance to answer the question that I asked previously.
I think you should understand and appreciate the powers that Parliament has and the critical role that Parliament has in getting information from Canadians. You may not like the criticism that sometimes flows from it. However, we have a responsibility to stand up for taxpayers, and that includes being able to fulfill our functions as parliamentarians.
Can you provide the names of the officials you met with—as I requested previously—for the contract where you sat down with government officials and worked out the terms of that contract? Can you provide the names of who you met with?
Partner, GC Strategies
I appreciate the question, but unfortunately, I'm still taking the same stance. I was brought in here before the investigation was completed. The assumption is that the RCMP has every allegation surrounding this, so on that point, I cannot interject.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Sir, have you been briefed by your lawyer on the constitutional principle of the supremacy of Parliament, the rights that parliamentary committees have when it comes to requesting information, and the fundamental powers that, in a democracy, the legislature has to have? Have you been briefed on these issues? If you have, then why do you persist in disregarding those requirements?
Partner, GC Strategies
I appreciate the question. Unfortunately, I can't comment on that. The conversations between me and my lawyer are privileged.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I think there's quite an assertion of privilege from you that ignores the rights and responsibilities of democratically elected legislative bodies.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
That is our time, Mr. Genuis.
We'll go to Mr. Sousa, please, for five minutes.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think we're wrapping up soon.
I just want to address some of the issues with respect to the use of ArriveCAN.
I know, Mr. Firth, that this is not necessarily under your responsibility, and you made that clear—in terms of the actual engagement or the final use of the product—but how many Canadians use the application that you were involved with? Do you have a sense?