The Liberals focus on their new budget, emphasizing [fairness for every generation] by [asking the wealthiest to pay more] to fund [investments in Canadians]. They highlight efforts to address the [housing crisis], support [young people], and fund programs like [dental care] and [child care], contrasting their approach with Conservative austerity.

The Bloc criticizes the federal government's interference in Quebec's jurisdictions, accusing them of abusing the fiscal imbalance. They heavily scrutinize the ArriveCAN scandal, focusing on GC Strategies' payments, procurement flaws, apparent collusion, and gifts to public servants.

The NDP focuses on the cost of living, blaming corporate greed and criticizing government handouts to corporations while demanding an increased Canada disability benefit. A major focus is the ArriveCAN scandal, scrutinizing procurement flaws, restricted criteria, the witness's testimony about meetings with officials, value for money, and questioning commissions and personal earnings.

The Green Party addresses the inadequacy of disability benefits and funding disparities. They heavily scrutinize the ArriveCAN scandal, focusing on GC Strategies' procurement failures and witness testimony, questioning if he is ashamed or acknowledged misleading Parliament.

Protection Against Extortion Act Second reading of Bill C-381. The bill amends the Criminal Code regarding extortion, proposing mandatory minimum sentences. Supporters argue it combats rising crime and soft-on-crime policies by targeting organized crime and using arson as an aggravating factor. Opponents contend mandatory minimums are ineffective, disproportionate, and hinder efforts to prosecute organized crime leaders, while the Bloc suggests alternatives. 7900 words, 1 hour.

Adjournment Debates

Carbon Tax on Farmers Pat Kelly accuses the government of increasing food costs by taxing farmers. Élisabeth Brière defends the carbon tax as essential for fighting climate change, noting rebates offset costs for most families. Kelly maintains farmers don't get rebates, and Brière reiterates the government's commitment to sustainability and affordability.

Canada disability benefit Mike Morrice criticizes the proposed Canada disability benefit of $200/month as inadequate and performative, citing disappointment from the disability community. Iqra Khalid defends the benefit as a first step and highlights the government's investments and commitment, while acknowledging the need for further progress and continued consultation.

Impact of the carbon tax Jeremy Patzer criticizes the carbon tax, arguing that it increases costs for farmers and municipalities, ultimately burdening ratepayers. Élisabeth Brière defends carbon pricing, stating that it contributes only a small amount to inflation and that the Canada carbon rebate helps families. Patzer says the tax still drives up grocery prices.

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Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Mr. Kristian Firth at Bar of HouseHouse of CommonsOral Questions

3:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Mr. Kristian Firth at Bar of HouseHouse of CommonsOral Questions

3:40 p.m.

The Speaker Greg Fergus

I thank the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle and I thank the member for South Surrey—White Rock for raising these points.

I would like to emphasize to all members the importance of how we conduct ourselves. Canadians are clearly watching this historic event, and they would expect us to conduct ourselves in a way that befits the occasion.

With that in mind, I invite the hon. government House leader to finish his remarks.

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Mr. Kristian Firth at Bar of HouseHouse of CommonsOral Questions

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

Mr. Speaker, indeed you pointed out in your remarks earlier just how unprecedented this is. We supported this initiative, but we regret that it has come to this. When we received the information that all parties were privy to, we made the responsible decision. What you, Mr. Speaker, have just seen across the aisle is the very confirmation of what I have been saying.

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Mr. Kristian Firth at Bar of HouseHouse of CommonsOral Questions

3:40 p.m.

The Speaker Greg Fergus

I will take it then that we can move on to the next series of questions.

The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Mr. Kristian Firth at Bar of HouseHouse of CommonsOral Questions

April 17th, 2024 / 3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON

Mr. Speaker, ArriveCAN was supposed to cost taxpayers $80,000, but the NDP-Liberal government rewarded consultants and insiders, who got rich on taxpayer dollars for an app that nobody wanted. The app erroneously forced more than 10,000 people into house arrest. It did not work, and the Auditor General said it cost at least $60 million. ArriveCAN is now under 13 federal investigations. Two middlemen who do no IT work got rich in a corrupt system under the NDP-Liberal government. Some, including the witness today, became multi-millionaires.

GC Strategies is a two-person company, and it claims to find people who actually do the work by using LinkedIn. Nearly $20 million for ArriveCan is what the company was paid, roughly $2,500 per hour. The people have been paid $100 million since forming GC Strategies just after the Liberal Prime Minister was elected. This is eight years under the Liberal Prime Minister.

The Liberal government has been ordered to collect and recoup all funds paid to ArriveCAN contractors and subcontractors who did no work on the ArriveCAN app. Has the government asked Mr. Firth to repay the money paid to GC Strategies on ArriveCAN?

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Mr. Kristian Firth at Bar of HouseHouse of CommonsOral Questions

3:40 p.m.

Partner

Kristian Firth

Mr. Speaker, no, they have not.

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Mr. Kristian Firth at Bar of HouseHouse of CommonsOral Questions

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON

Mr. Speaker, the procurement watchdog found “numerous examples where [GC Strategies] had simply copied and pasted” information to prove the people GC Strategies found to do work on ArriveCAN actually did it.

Has the government asked GC Strategies to repay the money paid to GC Strategies for ArriveCAN?

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Mr. Kristian Firth at Bar of HouseHouse of CommonsOral Questions

3:40 p.m.

Partner

Kristian Firth

Mr. Speaker, when we did our assessments, we found that the numbers provided by the ombudsman from public works were inaccurate. We have not been asked to pay any money back.

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Mr. Kristian Firth at Bar of HouseHouse of CommonsOral Questions