Evidence of meeting #97 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 business.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I believe you also indicated that what you originally billed Botler was something in the $2,000 range. Is that correct?
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I understand you indicated in evidence earlier that you billed Botler something in the neighbourhood of $2,000 for your work.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Can you forward a copy of that invoice directly to the committee?
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Why, sir, do I have another invoice with respect to your work for Botler, dated March 23, 2023, addressed to Kristian Firth at GC Strategies for work involving your consulting with the government and Botler, in the amount of $12,825.50?
January 17th, 2024 / 1:30 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
Perhaps I can provide content.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
You were not. Okay. Why did you prepare an invoice for almost $13,000 for the same work for which you invoiced Botler $2,000?
1:30 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
The invoice was originally for Botler. Their lawyer told me that it belonged to GC Strategies. I was led to believe that Botler had gone bankrupt, and I threw that invoice on top of the pile.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
You just happened to inflate the value by six times the original amount, fleecing the taxpayer. It that right, sir?
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Do you understand, sir, that Botler has hours and hours of taped recordings? Do you understand that, sir?
There is an audio recording that was made between Botler and Firth, in which Mr. Firth refers to you as the guy who wrote the business case for Shared Services for $5 billion. Firth asks Botler whether, if he gave you to them free of charge, they would like to have you work with them.
That was dated October 26, 2020. On the same call, Mr. Firth says he'll tell you to bill a few days here and there, and then he, Mr. Firth, would charge it to CBSA.
What is going on here, Mr. Brennan? Taxpayers have a right to know if they're being fleeced by you.
Did you work free of charge?
1:35 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
I can't comment on third party conversations.
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
1:35 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
Absolutely not.
I can't comment on third party conversations.
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
What were you actually paid for your so-called consulting for Botler AI to various government ministries? What were you actually paid, sir?
1:35 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
I absolutely can't comment on third party comments.
I don't understand your question. You're asking me what I was paid for—
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
What were you paid, sir, for your services?
It's a simple question.
1:35 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
From the government for work that I did on the—