Debates of April 17th, 2024

Sitting Resumed

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Firth has made connections and met with public servants for over a decade, wining and dining them for contracts. Officials became comfortable with this system. Officials allowed Mr. Firth to charge millions because they were not willing to follow the rules and used Mr. Firth as their easy way out of accountability.

Who is Mr. Firth protecting in this corrupt system?

[Kristian Firth]

Mr. Speaker, I am not protecting anybody. I am just going about my business, like an IT staffing firm does.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, did Mr. Firth review the content of the search warrant executed on his house yesterday?

[Kristian Firth]

Mr. Speaker, I skimmed through the six pages, yes.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, did the search warrant specify forgery pursuant to section 366 of the Criminal Code and fraud pursuant to section 380 of the Criminal Code of Canada?

[Kristian Firth]

Again, Mr. Speaker, I skimmed through it. To answer honestly, I cannot give that answer accurately.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Firth admitted that he altered two résumés, replacing a two-month internship with 51 months of professional experience. On another occasion, he inflated seven years of experience to 12. He claimed that this was a mistake.

He did not have consent to manipulate the résumés. Is that not correct?

[Kristian Firth]

Mr. Speaker, we have mentioned this previously in previous testimonies, but we encouraged the RCMP investigation into the Botler allegations, whether it is fraud over $5,000, because we believe it is going to exonerate us.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, he clearly did not answer the question. I will move on.

How many other times has Mr. Firth altered materials and résumés to the government since 2015?

[Kristian Firth]

Mr. Speaker, it is a common practice to engage with a resource to understand, because not everybody's CV or résumé completely aligns with requirements that are coming out. They may have the experience, but we just have to speak with them to qualify that.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am asking for the number.

[Kristian Firth]

Mr. Speaker, I do not have a number.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Firth's actions amounted to forgery under the Criminal Code. He altered résumés to secure government contracts, thereby fleecing the Canadian taxpayer. Is that not correct?

[Kristian Firth]

Mr. Speaker, the allegations regarding the Botler résumés were on a contract that had already been awarded, so these were task authorizations. No contracts would have been decided either way by these résumés. It was one business.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Firth's actions further constituted a fraud on the Government of Canada. Section 380 of the Criminal Code stipulates fraud is “Every one who, by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means” defrauds the public “of any property, money or valuable security”.

Both offences are punishable by indictment and, upon conviction, he could face a maximum prison sentence of 10 to 14 years. Is he aware of that?

[Kristian Firth]

Again, Mr. Speaker, we are looking forward to the investigation by the RCMP because we believe it will exonerate us.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Firth's actions were not accidental but intentional. This was not a mistake. He knew his resources would not qualify for taxpayer monies without manipulating their experience.

Does Mr. Firth think that the Prime Minister or the Liberal cabinet ministers should be at the bar answering questions today, instead of him, or is he willing to go to jail for them?

[Kristian Firth]

Mr. Speaker, can I speak to my counsel, please?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Go ahead, Mr. Firth.

[Kristian Firth]

Mr. Speaker, I am not even sure what the question is there.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I wish to inform the hon. member that his time has elapsed.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I would like to inform the hon. member for Brantford—Brant, and we will be able to show him this on the record, that actually by the time he finished his question the time he had had already elapsed.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I respect that, Mr. Speaker, but he clearly indicated that he did not understand the question. In terms of fairness to Mr. Firth, he should be afforded an opportunity for me to rephrase the question so he can understand it and respond accordingly.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, you started off today talking about the importance of decorum. I do not think it is appropriate for the member opposite to be challenging the Speaker when the rules, as you expressed them, were very clear.

The time has expired. That means we move on to the next person, and he should not be challenging the Chair.