Evidence of meeting #134 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cbsa.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
[Technical difficulty—Editor] informed you? I understand what you're saying. You're saying this catalogue is the evidence to inform you as to why GC Strategies was the contractor. Is that correct?
As an Individual
I wouldn't know that GC Strategies was a two-person company. I wouldn't know that.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
You would have just seen them on the list. You've said they're on the approved list, somebody verified it, and therefore—
As an Individual
[Technical difficulty—Editor] that I had, but from Angela Durigan, who had to say we're not doing anything with a sole-source contract until we can provide—
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
When a misconduct report was submitted to you by Botler to suggest that GC Strategies isn't who they say they are and maybe they shouldn't be on this preferred contractor list, why is it, then, that you failed to ensure that there was a misconduct report that was actually investigated and pursued? Rather than an investigation into who GC Strategies really is and how they got onto the TBIPS list, why did it result in what actually happened, which was the outright termination of Botler when they tried to sound the alarm bells? Who directed you to do that—or was it you yourself?
As an Individual
First of all, you're asking about the cancellation of the task authorization with Ritika Dutt and her partner. That decision—
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Why did that become the result rather than an investigation?
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
That's the question. I want you to answer that question.
NDP
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
—when a misconduct report was given to you.
I need you to hear the question, Ms. Daly.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
You're not letting me. Did you hear what I said? You're interrupting me.
I would claim my time, Chair, in order to get an answer to my question.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
I appreciate that, Mr. Desjarlais. There's just a bit of audio in the background.
Please pose the question as clearly as you can. Then we'll give Ms. Daly an opportunity to answer, after which we'll move on.
Thank you.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
I will.
Botler claimed that they were an unknown subcontractor to GC Strategies. When they came forward with allegations of misconduct, they raised that misconduct report with you. The result of them raising the misconduct report did not result in you initiating an investigation of that potential claim of misconduct. What in fact happened was that Botler AI's contract was terminated. That seems like retaliation for what is a very clear instance of someone trying to raise an issue of misconduct.
Why is it that you decided not to ensure an investigation but to then terminate instead?
As an Individual
You're referring to the initial request for payment. The initial request for payment had attachments of correspondence between Ms. Dutt and, I believe, other people. I had no right as a PG to interfere with what are business relationships outside of the Government of Canada contract. We're not allowed to do that. Therefore—
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Is that even when it's claimed that misconduct has happened?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you. We can pick this up again, Mr. Desjarlais.
The answer might not be complete, but I've given you both time. We'll come back to this, I'm sure.
Mr. Barrett, you have the floor for five minutes, please.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Ms. Daly, how many times did you meet with or communicate with Kristian Firth of GC Strategies?