Evidence of meeting #83 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 work.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:20 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
I didn't on this case. I'm just talking about typical process.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Did CBSA reject the deliverables and the contract before or after Botler made misconduct allegations on September 27, 2021?
5:20 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
December 23 was when the termination email went to them, with CBSA asking...so the timing would be that the accusations were made before the termination.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Would you describe a cottage as under $100,000, with two bedrooms, and a chalet...? How would you describe the difference between a cottage and a chalet, and how did you know Mr. MacDonald had a chalet and not a cottage?
5:20 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
It was because in a meeting we had, he referenced the fact that he had a chalet once. I don't know what the generic square footage is—or bedrooms—for either a cottage or a chalet. I'm pretty sure it's different for all of them.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thank you very much.
We have Mr. Barrett for five, and then we'll finish with Mr. Kusmierczyk for five.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
What is the last invoice you submitted for ArriveCAN work to the Government of Canada?
5:20 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
I'm sorry. I don't have that, but I can provide that to you.
I didn't come here with.... I've already provided every kind of information I have.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
You didn't come here with information that GC Strategies didn't do work on ArriveCAN but billed the taxpayers for it. Got it.
The answer is October 2023.
I'm going to read you a transcript of a leaked audio file. It's of you. You said, “We did the ArriveCAN app, which is one that everybody has to use to come across the border, in two months. And that has like 27 pages, 15 workflows, e-declarations, facial recognition, NFC capability of the passport.” If it took you two months to do the work, why are you still billing taxpayers in October of this year?
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
I'm pleased that you suddenly found the documents related to my question.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
The problem we have here today is that for all of my questions, we have to assume that you've lied about absolutely everything.
Sir, I've never said to a witness in my parliamentary career that they have lied to a committee, but you just did. I'm not sure if you thought you were clever, pulling at the source off your shelf. “It's not a cottage; it's a chalet.” It's embarrassing. What you're doing is disrespectful to members of this committee and it's disrespectful, frankly, to the Government of Canada, which is paying your rent.
Taxpayers should be very concerned that a dollar has flowed from the Government of Canada to your organization, because everything you've said here today is absolutely unacceptable for a contractor for the Government of Canada—
5:20 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
I'm sorry, but I haven't invoiced the CBSA since May.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Sir, that was not a question. That was—
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
—a statement of fact.
Mr. Chair, can you please call the witness to order?
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Sir, I'm going to ask you some questions that we dealt with previously. We're going to see if we get different answers this time, because that seems to be the pattern with you.
Do you use relationships to get work from the Government of Canada?
5:20 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
No, I do not.
I'm sorry. What is your interpretation of a relationship, please?
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
What is your interpretation of a cottage versus a chalet?
We have records of you meeting at a hotel with the CIO for the Government of Canada, and now you're telling this committee, “I don't have any recollection of that.” I have to tell you, if I meet with the top person from an organization, I'm going to remember that meeting, particularly if I've had to comply with an access to information request concerning that, and then furnished that request.
Sir, you're being dishonest and disingenuous in all of your answers to our questions. I appreciate that you're embarrassed about the work that you've done and about the things that you've said, but you are required to be honest when you come before a parliamentary committee, and this clever act that you're trying to put on is not fooling anyone.
I'm going to ask you some of these questions again.
Have you ever met with government officials or anyone employed by the government in a private residence, yes or no?
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Okay. What was the nature of that meeting?
5:20 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
I'm assuming.... I don't know the exact meeting you're referencing. It's not like I've had hundreds of these things. The truth is that I don't know which one you're talking about. I've had meetings—