Thank you, Mr. Chair and honourable members of the parliamentary committee.
I have submitted the text of my opening remarks, but I'm going to add some words today because of some events last night.
There has been a concerted effort to portray Mr. Utano and me as corrupt. The narrative is compelling, but it's based on untrue allegations. The falsehoods and innuendos have been plastered in the national press. Senior CBSA officials have distanced themselves from us.
Our careers have been put on hold. Our lives have been disrupted.
Last night, I received an email from a Ms. Simmons, someone I do not know. It said that she hoped I would go to jail, and that among other things, I was corrupt, greedy and a sorry excuse for a human being. She hopes I am ashamed and that I will seek redemption.
These are all based on falsehoods. There was no cozy relationship, no conspiracy and no fraud involving Mr. Utano or me.
I'm grateful to have the opportunity to finally present the truth, address the extraordinary allegations that have been raised by Botler AI, and show through facts that you have been misled.
I will begin by providing you with some background on the ArriveCAN application.
During COVID, a serious need arose for a national mobile application to enable Canadians to re-enter the country. CBSA's contracting authority, the finance branch, authorized the sole-source, and PSPC negotiated the terms and authored the final contract. Our innovation team was given fewer than five days to pursue options. Six companies were evaluated. GC Strategies and Deloitte were the only vendors willing and able to satisfy the requirements in the narrow time frame.
I was not involved in the GC Strategies vetting. Two options were presented to my superior, then vice-president and chief information officer, Minh Doan. Minh Doan specifically rejected Deloitte as an option. Deloitte had, in fact, been my preference. As a result of the direction given to proceed by Mr. Doan, GC Strategies was recommended to the contracting authority. I was the director general of innovation. The decision was never mine to make.
For 12 months, until May 2021, I led the team responsible for the development and expansion of the ArriveCAN application.
During my participation, all task authorizations provided to GC Strategies were met, on time and on budget.
Prior to my departure, I provided a costing for ArriveCAN. It was $6.3 million. This was shared with my colleagues and supervisor.
Botler AI's allegations against me are unfounded.
Most complaints are opinions. Under the slightest scrutiny at this committee, they began to collapse. They told this committee they believed their chatbot would make them $26 million a year. Their disappointment has turned into a campaign of baseless accusations against Mr. Utano and me.
The facts are these: In 2019, Dalian Enterprises competed fairly for a general services IT contract. On November 19, 2019, I received an unsolicited, jointly branded GCS and Botler proposal for Bill C-65. The HR department was the client and decision-maker for the work with Botler. A feasibility study was asked for by CBSA that had six parts. There was never a pilot in scope. My VP instructed me directly to help them deliver an executive-appropriate presentation. I advised my VP that CBSA would use an existing contract. The proper contracting processes were followed. PSPC has validated this.
I have had an unblemished reputation in the public service for 23 years. I have competed openly for every single promotion I have ever received, starting from an entry-level position as a student. My actions have always been guided by a commitment to the public interest. The allegations that have been painted are incomplete and inaccurate—a misleading narrative.
The reality, along with the accountability of the leadership of CBSA.... The result is that my reputation and the careers of good public servants are being shattered.
I thank the members of the committee for the opportunity to share the facts openly and honestly.