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.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Yes. I think the day after Botler filed its first complaint, Ms. Daly wrote you and asked you to pay Botler, and the next day you did.
I have a question. Botler alleges you said the resulting price increase would suck for Canadians. Did you say that?
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Botler alleged during the resulting price increase on the contract that you said this would suck for Canadians.
4:55 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
Was it the price? I'm sorry. I'm not familiar with that at all.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
You're not familiar with that.
Is there anything you could tell this committee you may not have told us, but you think you should have?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
You're going to have to save that question for your next round, Mr. Johns, but I certainly understand.
Next, we have Mr. Brock, for five minutes, please.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Firth, I'm sure the millions of Canadians who either are watching this or will learn about this in the press or seek out the transcript of this particular meeting will be very, very grateful that the RCMP has access to this particular evidence.
I can understand why you would take active steps in misleading this committee, and Canadians, with respect to your role as it relates to fraud and forgery with respect to modifying without permission and consent these résumés to the government.
What I can't understand is why you would deliberately lie to this committee on a very innocent question that was put to you by my colleague, Mr. Barrett, when he asked if you knew whether or not Mr. Cameron MacDonald from the CBSA had a cottage, and you said, “No.”
Do you want to reflect on that answer?
4:55 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
Mr. MacDonald never referred to it as a cottage. It's a chalet. It's not a cottage.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I am so grateful for that clarification, Mr. Firth.
Are you kidding me?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Are you saying you knew all along he had something that was equivalent to a cottage, or a cabin, but because a different word was used to refer to it, you had the licence to say, “I don't know”? Is that what you want us to believe?
4:55 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
You were asking a specific question about a cottage, and I answered honestly. He never mentioned he had a cottage.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I see, so you have a very limited ability in terms of telling this committee the truth. Is that correct, Mr. Firth?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
The RCMP is going to have a field day when it comes to interviewing you.
4:55 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
I answered the question honestly with the question that was put to me.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I see. Well, let's ask you some more questions, then.
Have you ever had, or claimed to have, influence on any government officials?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Do you remember, sir, some of the allegations you have probably read about that Botler actually taped conversations with you—hours and hours of conversations with you? Do you want to reflect on that question again?
4:55 p.m.
Partner, GC Strategies
No. I've read everything you've said. I've read everything that was in the newspaper.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Well, sir, I'll remind you what you said on audiotape that has been recorded. You told Botler during the very first call, on November 8, 2019, and these are your words:
So we have essentially the ear of the president right now of CBSA, which is, I guess, really the equivalent of the minister or like the deputy minister, and my client who is leading.... He's a very high executive responsible for innovation cloud.
You go on to say:
for the next step of getting the proposal over to the president, because this will land on his desk, one hundred per cent. Like, this is going, you know, above the ADM level.
If that's not influence, or claiming to have influence, on any government official, sir, I don't know what is.
I'm going to ask you again. Do you want to be truthful or not to this committee? Do you want to continue to lie that you did not exaggerate, or claim, that you had this great influence over officials at the CBSA? Yes or no?