Evidence of meeting #80 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 rcmp.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Thank you.
I think Amir Morv and Ritika Dutt are heroes for the courage they had to step forward in a situation like this. They didn't get paid for nine months. They have reputational damage, potentially, from this, and the challenges of potentially not getting contracts with the federal government and others.
Would you agree, Mr. Ossowski, that this is a courageous thing they've done, and that they've been harmed by waiting for nine months to get paid, with no contract and the stress of this?
As an Individual
I appreciate the concerns that you raise. I certainly have seen the one part of the story that's been reported in The Globe and Mail. I think I would look forward to seeing the results of the investigation to comment further.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Given what you've read, do you also believe there's reputational damage to Canada when it is trying to seek vendors who will be highly discouraged in terms of wanting to do business with Canada, given this situation and how it played out?
As an Individual
Again, I can make statements only based on what I read in The Globe and Mail. That's just part of the story. I will wait to see what the RCMP investigation produces.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
You made a comment about The Globe and Mail, about Bill Curry. You said it was conflated. I would say this is really important. Do you believe this needs a deep dive, given the information we've gotten so far?
As an Individual
Absolutely. I personally am here today because the way the article was written impugns my reputation.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Yes. I appreciate that. It's not targeted at you or your reputation, to be honest with you. I just wanted to seek your opinion, given the information we've been provided. I appreciate that.
Ms. O'Gorman, on September 27, 2021, Botler informed the CBSA that it should immediately stop payments to the contractors and request a refund of any amounts already paid. What did CBSA do in response to this?
President, Canada Border Services Agency
I wasn't in the position in September 2021. I'm not in a position to speak to that.
President, Canada Border Services Agency
I have launched an internal investigation and referred it to the RCMP, but I am not personally conducting—
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Okay. I think that would be good information for this committee to have from the CBSA and produced for the committee. I don't think we can understand fully what happened here without that information.
Mr. Chair, can I get consent from the committee to request that information?
Conservative
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Thank you.
Is GC Strategies named on the Botler task authorization?
President, Canada Border Services Agency
I have not gone through the documents. When the individuals who work for Botler sent me the dossier with the allegations, I handed those over for an investigation. I have not personally been going through documents. I have asked that there be an independent internal investigation. I referred the matter to the RCMP.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
I think we need that information and also to find out if the CBSA suggested that the payments for the task authorization should flow through Coradix or to GC Strategies, and then finally on to Botler.
We need that information. Can I also request that from the committee?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
I'm going to stop the time here for a second.
Ms. O'Gorman, are you clear on what documents Mr. Johns is asking for?
President, Canada Border Services Agency
Yes. I would just note that it is part of an internal investigation. I don't know what documents exist. I have not personally been going through.... I have wanted that to be independent of me.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Could you provide what Mr. Johns and the committee have asked for? As well, if anything is not available, can you provide us with information on why it's not available?
Thanks very much.
Go ahead, Mr. Johns.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
The reason I'm asking for this is that funnelling taxpayers' dollars through a party not even listed on a contract is a serious concern.
How much did the CBSA grant in additional contracts to GC Strategies, Coradix and Dalian after the report on September 27, 2021?
President, Canada Border Services Agency
I don't have that information.
I would just concur with your point about the seriousness of it and point out that I referred it to the RCMP.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Okay.
Have you ever spoken with the public safety or any other minister with respect to Botler's allegations?
President, Canada Border Services Agency
After I referred it to the RCMP, I informed the Minister of Public Safety that I had done so.