Government Operations Committee on Oct. 31st, 2023

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

—come to you and try to engage you?

[Colin Wood]

I can answer the question in relation to the Botler AI task authorization. Is that what you're asking me?

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

It's overall in your relationship with GC Strategies.

[Colin Wood]

We don't have a relationship. We have done business from time to time, but typically, clients come to us. In this instance, for the Botler AI project, they were named in the task authorization request, and the CBSA informed GC Strategies.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Okay.

When you hire a subcontractor and they have a dispute with the sub who's subbing from the subcontractor—like Botler and GC Strategies—and there is work that's been done by one of your subs, but you've been paid for the work, do you leave the responsibility to pay them with the first sub? Because you've been paid for the work they've done—like in Botler's case, where they claim they've done $350,000 worth of work—do you not take responsibility for that, or do you communicate with your initial sub and say, “The work has been done. Why haven't you paid the vendor?”

[Colin Wood]

There are a few things there, Mr. Chair, and to the member.

The CBSA received only two deliverables from Botler AI before it terminated the contract. In these types of relationships, we only communicate with the company we hold the contractual arrangement with.

It's also a fact that—

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Okay. They can basically stiff or bankrupt a company that's doing work for Canadian taxpayers. Basically, that sub can bankrupt somebody who is doing honest, good work for Canadians. That's what I'm getting at.

Can you tell me who Patrick van Abbema is, and what his relationship to you is?

[Colin Wood]

Botler was paid for both of those deliverables, by the way.

Patrick van Abbema was also included in the task authorization for the Botler AI project.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Did you make any money on the Botler contract?

[Colin Wood]

I'm sorry. I missed part of the question.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Did you make a commission on the Botler contract at all? If so, how much was it?

[Colin Wood]

The total value of the Botler AI.... Each deliverable was worth $70,000. They submitted two deliverables, and Coradix and Dalian made $14,000 on each deliverable.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

In terms of the indigenous set-aside...I have lots of questions related to this. I really value the program because indigenous involvement and leadership in Canadian procurement are important aspects of reconciliation.

How many joint ventures have Dalian and Coradix gone into?

[Colin Wood]

We have been in a joint venture since 2004. From time to time, when we decide to respond to RFPs, we make a decision together on whether to engage in the RFP as a joint venture or independently.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

How many joint ventures have Dalian and Coradix gone into that were not connected to the indigenous set-aside program?

[Colin Wood]

Mr. Chair, and to the member, I don't have that number for you. I apologize.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Can you produce that number to this committee within three weeks? I'd like numbers both for how many joint ventures Dalian and Coradix have gone into, and for how many joint ventures Dalian and Coradix have gone into that were not connected to the indigenous set-aside program.

[Colin Wood]

Sure.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

That's great. Thank you.

We'll go to Mr. Barrett, please, for five minutes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Yeo, what's the structure of your business as it relates to your counterpart on the other side of the desk? How many employees do you have?

[David Yeo]

Mr. Chair, and to the member, thank you very much for the question.

I started the business in 2001—

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

I'm not looking for what year it was founded. I'm looking for the structure—the org chart—if you can provide that in verbal terms in under 30 seconds.

[David Yeo]

Absolutely.

In 2001, I went to Coradix when I first won my first contract out of the PSAB. We formed a business together. We basically hold, in a corporate structure.... We have two full-time employees with Dalian—

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Okay.