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
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
No, I'm sorry, Mr. Firth. We're attending to something else, but we'll get to you shortly.
Partner, GC Strategies
I was going to say that it's been three hours right now, and this is kind of where I think I could be—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
No, I'm sorry. I have to ask you to stay, Mr. Firth. We may be able to get to our last couple of questioning rounds, so I have to ask you to stand by for a bit here.
Mr. Sousa, your hand is up.
We'll get back to you shortly, Mr. Firth.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This is the revised version that's been submitted, is it? I think we're in agreement with what has been put forward.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Perfect. We're all in agreement, then, colleagues. That's wonderful.
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Firth, we have just two last interventions, by Mrs. Block and Mr. Bains, but we'll have you out of here shortly.
Mrs. Block, go ahead.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Really quickly, Mr. Firth, do you have any contracts with provincial governments or any municipal governments at this time?
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Okay. Thank you.
The Auditor General noted that the CBSA identified a resource that was added to one of your task authorizations as a subcontractor. This resource was KPMG. She noted that that was unusual.
This is one of the four largest multinational firms worldwide, yet it was placed on a task authorization form as a subcontractor of your company.
Do you know who approached KPMG to be put in place as a subcontractor of GC Strategies?
Partner, GC Strategies
No, I don't.
I know who approached me from KPMG, but I don't have it in front of me right now. I can't comment on that. I'm sorry.
Conservative
Partner, GC Strategies
Again, I've already said I'll give you that before five o'clock, in writing, because I'm trying to get out of here.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Okay. At the same time, could you provide us with how much commission you would have earned as a result of that resource being placed on a task authorization form?
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
In response to some of the comments that my colleague Mr. Sousa made in his previous intervention, the Auditor General, the procurement ombud and the comptroller general have all indicated that they are deeply concerned about what has been uncovered during this study. They believe that this could be an issue across other departments. In fact, the Auditor General noted two other departments.
There are 10 investigations ongoing with regard to the irregularities, the mismanagement and, I think, what could come down to criminality.
My question for you is whether you are aware of something called “Charbonneau loops”, which is a term used in procurement and bidding.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Charbonneau loops ultimately happen “when the 'pool' of companies (receiving public sector contracts for a given type of work) is small enough that the same companies are sometimes overseeing, and sometimes overseen, by their peers in that same pool.”
Have you had any conversations with any of the other companies or firms that were bidding on the same contracts as you?
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Thank you very much for that.
Chair, to follow up on my questions around KPMG, I wonder if you can confirm whether we have invited KPMG to appear before our committee and if they have responded.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
KPMG and all of the subcontractors have been invited, and we're working on dates.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Okay. Thank you very much.
I want to confirm, then.... You said you have done some work in the private sector. I'm not sure if I heard this. Did you provide us with a percentage of the work you do for the government and what percentage is for the private sector?
Partner, GC Strategies
I can speculate to give you an answer, but it would not be 100% accurate. Would you like me to [Technical difficulty—Editor]?
I don't have the exact number in front of me. I'm going on approximations. I'm just wondering if you would like me to get you the exact number or an approximation right now.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
I'm sorry. I thought you had cut out.
Yes, if you could, provide us with the percentage of work you've done for the public sector. I'm thinking specifically about the federal government, the Government of Canada, because it appears you haven't done any work with other levels of government.
If you could give us the percentage that you have done for the federal government versus the percentage for the private sector, that would be appreciated.