Government Operations Committee on Oct. 26th, 2023

Evidence of meeting #81 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 cbsa.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

ArriveCAN Application

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Ritika Dutt Chief Executive Officer, Botler

Amir Morv Chief Technology and Security Officer, Botler

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

But you didn't have a contract with them.

4:25 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Botler

Ritika Dutt

That is correct.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

GC Strategies...you said it didn't have a contract with the CBSA.

4:25 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Botler

Ritika Dutt

It had different contracts with the CBSA, but it was not involved in the final contract that was executed, which was supposed to be for our work.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

Who did...? Who had the final contract?

October 26th, 2023 / 4:25 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Botler

Ritika Dutt

It was Dalian and Coradix.

4:25 p.m.

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Botler

Amir Morv

GC Strategies had a contract with the CBSA. For example, for ArriveCAN, I think it tabled different contracts with the agency. These were professional contracts that a company like GC Strategies used to retain services of professionals.

GC Strategies had contracts, but GC Strategies didn't use its contracts for our pilot. It brought in different firms by the names of Dalian and Coradix. Those firms had a contract with the CBSA that was used for ArriveCAN.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

Who paid you?

4:25 p.m.

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Botler

Amir Morv

GC Strategies paid us.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

They paid you twice.

4:25 p.m.

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Botler

Amir Morv

Twice.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

For the full $350,000.

4:25 p.m.

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Botler

Amir Morv

No, it was for $112,000.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

It was for $112,000, so you're still out $238,000.

4:25 p.m.

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Botler

Amir Morv

That is correct.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

Your point of contact is GC Strategies. That's who's paying you.

4:25 p.m.

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Botler

Amir Morv

No. The CBSA should pay us, because the work was—

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

No. You don't have an agreement with the CBSA—

4:25 p.m.

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Botler

Amir Morv

We don't have an agreement with—

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

You don't have a contract. It didn't contract you. It was GC Strategies that provided you the opportunity.

4:30 p.m.

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Botler

Amir Morv

No. It was the CBSA, because the work was for the CBSA—

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

I understand, but who approached you?

4:30 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Botler

Ritika Dutt

It was sent on behalf of the CBSA.

4:30 p.m.

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Botler

Amir Morv

I'm sorry.

The CBSA basically sent Mr. Firth and the contracting authority of the CBSA, Mr. Cameron MacDonald, who specifically stated that you have to work with GC Strategies if you want to work with the CBSA. He was the contracting authority.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

This was for the pilot, not ArriveCAN. This was the pilot scenario.