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.
12:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
For that, Mr. Brennan, I ask that you provide it in writing, or perhaps during Ms. Vignola's next round you can answer that.
Mr. Johns, you have six minutes, please.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Again, happy new year to everybody on the committee. It's nice to see you all.
Mr. Brennan, can you talk about what your relationship is with Mr. Kristian Firth?
12:30 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
It's purely professional. He calls me when he has opportunities that might fit my skill set.
12:30 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
I never mentored Kristian Firth.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Have you ever made statements such as, “I am loyal to Kristian”?
12:30 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
Not to my knowledge, no. With the “tier 2” community I have several relationships, business relationships.
12:30 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
Oh, actually, let me recant. I can tell you that when I was approached by Botler to go direct, I asked Botler to have a conversation with GC Strategies, because Kristian introduced me. That would be the only way I have ever mentioned I was loyal, but I'm not loyal business-wise. It's the way he introduced me. I don't know what the relationship was with Botler at the time.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Have you ever worked on one government project and invoiced for that work on another government project?
12:30 p.m.
NDP
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
I'm just going to quote some excerpts from a call from Mr. Firth on January 26, 2021, regarding you. Mr. Firth stated that you'd been paid well to be able to do this, so it gave you an opportunity to double dip.
Do you want to comment on that?
12:30 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
I can't comment on third parties. I can't comment on his quote.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
12:30 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
That would be his business opinion.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Do you find it somewhat suspicious and pretty alarming that he's talking about you?
12:30 p.m.
NDP
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Under which contractual agreement or task authorization did you reach out to the CBSA's vice-president of transformation?
12:30 p.m.
Professional Consultant, As an Individual
Under...? I did not reach out to the vice-president of CBSA's transformation.