Evidence of meeting #34 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 border.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Partner, GCstrategies
I don't have that on me right now. These are quotes that have been contributed to our website over the seven years since we started.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Would you be able to attribute those quotes in your written submission to the committee?
Partner, GCstrategies
What's the purpose of this? I'm sorry. Why would that be necessary?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
It's important for us to understand how this relationship came to fruition.
Partner, GCstrategies
Absolutely, but would the fact that we were working there for a year and that we were working on similar sorts of engagements not be sufficient?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
No. The names of them would be great.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Thank you.
At any time, did you have any contact with ministers' offices or members of cabinet in any of these calls?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Do you know of any benefits or hospitality that was received by anyone working for the Government of Canada from any of your subcontractors or from your organization?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Okay.
In this contracting process and in the development of ArriveCAN, was Alex Benay involved in the development and implementation of this process?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
To follow up on Mr. Housefather, do you or any of your subcontractors have any connections to the Liberal Party of Canada or Data Sciences Inc.?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Okay.
Do you have any subcontracts with frontline officers who are employed concurrently with the Canada Border Services Agency?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
In scoping out that work.... The ArriveCAN app has over 615,000 reviews on the Apple App Store, which is unbelievable. I've completed one app review in my entire life, so I'm shocked by this.
Were you ever asked by anyone in government to increase the number of reviews for the app?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Do you know of...? Have any of your subcontractors ever purchased reviews for—
Partner, GCstrategies
I don't know. Again, I'm not technical. I'm an IT staffing company. I have never had conversations about that.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Okay.
Do you know if any of your other apps have ever received 600,000 reviews in the App Store?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Okay.
In the case study section of your website, there's a link to a video about ArriveCAN, but the video is now private.
Are you able to provide the committee with that video?
Partner, GCstrategies
Did it identify as private or was it just not up there?