Evidence of meeting #109 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 company.
A video is available from Parliament.
1 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
We knew we weren't able to do business with the Government of Canada. We were suspended from everything. Our company's security clearance was irrelevant and we would never be using it, so we deleted his clearance, knowing we were going to lose our clearance.
1 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Does the company have security clearance in addition to Mr. Firth's own personal security clearance?
1 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
No. I still have my personal security clearance, I believe.
1 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
When PSPC suspended your company's security clearance, what did that mean? What were they suspending?
1 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
They were suspending us from being able to get anybody a security clearance or hold on to anyone's security clearance.
1:05 p.m.
NDP
1:05 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
That's interesting.
As chief security officer, were you concerned about the loss of Mr. Firth's security clearance?
1:05 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
No. We were aware this was going to happen. We actioned it.
1:05 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Did you communicate with PSPC about the revocation of security clearance?
1:05 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Does the fact that you still have your own personal security clearance mean that you can still approve the clearance of resources that work on projects?
1:05 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
It's because we don't have any government contracts. We don't have any government contractors. For me to get into the system.... I would not be able to process anyone's clearance because I don't have access.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thank you. I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have a couple more rounds.
Mr. Brock, go ahead, sir.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Anthony, does it concern you that Mr. Firth actively engaged in acts of fraud and forgery in relation to the Botler contract? Furthermore, are you concerned by his evidence at committee that it was a standard practice of his to take a look at various résumés with respect to other contracts and to match those to the requirements set out by the government? To me as a former prosecutor, that just spells out another word for “criminality”.
On a personal level, sir, does it concern you that your partner has been engaged in criminal acts, yes or no?
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Are you defending his actions, sir? Are you saying that what he did with respect to Botler in changing their résumés without their consent and engaging in that same sort of practice with other contractors was entirely acceptable by your standards?
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
He said he did.
That's fine. You're defending him. I have you on record. That's an important point that perhaps you might want to discuss with your counsel.
Now, you'll have to forgive me as well, sir, but in your opening statement you wanted the public to have some sympathy for the situation that your company, GC Strategies, is now facing in terms of financial hardship. According to public accounts data, GC Strategies has received $59 million in federal funding from all federal departments combined since 2017. If we take your commission value of 15% at the lowest all the way to 30% at the highest, it means that since 2017, over the last seven years, you and Firth have received $8.85 million at the 15% mark or up to $17.7 million at the highest mark. That's roughly $4.4 million to you, sir, or up to $8.8 million.
Now, in light of the very poor fiscal policies that Justin Trudeau has adopted since 2015 and the affordability crisis that Canadians are facing, you will probably understand that no Canadian has any sympathy for you, sir, in the situation you're in, because that amount of money is something that is almost akin to winning the taxpayer lottery. I'm not asking for a response, but I want you to consider, sir, that you have been rewarded very handsomely on the backs of Canadian taxpayers.
This will be my last line of questioning: What did you actually do in the grand total of two hours to prepare for this meeting, aside from talking to Kristian Firth? What did you do? What did you review?