Debates of June 12th, 2025

Opposition Motion—GC Strategies Inc.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in this place on behalf of the great people of not just southwest Saskatchewan but also west central Saskatchewan. With the redistribution of the ridings for the past federal election, I have taken on some significant area to the north of what the old riding used to be. It is an honour to be able to represent people from that new area. I want to thank my constituents for trusting me to be their representative here in the House for a third time.

While I was on the campaign trail, I was door knocking in the town of Biggar. “New York is big, but this is Biggar" is a saying in that town. It is a great community. I knocked on this one door, and a mom answered. She was a single mom with a couple of young kids, and she was working as an EA in the local school there. As the conversation went on, she talked about how unaffordable life has become, about the struggles of a single mom and the plight she was in with her former partner not doing a good job of making his spousal and child support payments, as well as the lack of enforcement around that. The reason that matters is that while we have this story about this young lady in Biggar and the struggles she is going through in life, on the other hand, we need to look at what has been happening with the government, which is the same as the last government and not the new government it says it is.

Look at the track record of so many ministers. We can look at the scandals, the waste and what has gone on over the last 10 years. What happened with GC Strategies is just another glaring example of the type of cronyism, the type of fraud, that has really been committed against the taxpayer. This young mom, in the situation she is in, sees this and wonders, “What on earth is going on? I can't even get ahead.”

In the Auditor General report here, it says that not only did Kristian Firth get all this money that he should not have been getting; he also got to help write some of the contracts. He got to help write some of the conditions for the deals. There was a $25-million deal that he helped write, and then he got the deal, and of course it was heavily slanted in favour of GC Strategies. What a shocker. We see that, and then we hear about the plight of this young lady.

I know that all of us on the campaign trail would have heard similar stories from people who are struggling with the cost of living, people who are struggling after 10 years of bad Liberal policy, and what that has done to them and their communities and their ability to afford housing, to afford groceries, to afford a vehicle, to get out of high school, to get out of college, to get out of university and enter the workforce, and how those opportunities are not there, thanks to Liberal mismanagement of basically everything. After the last campaign, those are the kinds of stories that people elected us here to be able to tell.

The Auditor General's report and the issues it talks about are the reason why we have a motion today calling on the government to make sure that GC Strategies repays the money, that that money is recovered. I just want to highlight a couple of other things from the Auditor General's report. Right at the very beginning, it reads:

Federal organizations are required to monitor the work performed by contractors. However, we noted that federal organizations frequently disregarded government policies in this area. This included not having records showing which contracted resources performed the work, what work was completed, and whether the people doing the work had the required experience and qualifications. In addition, in 82% of examined non‑competitive contracts and competitive contracts that received only 1 valid bid, federal organizations failed to verify that the fees paid did not exceed market rates.

On top of that, let us take a look at some of the notes in the report as well. Underneath the rubric of “Federal organizations did not follow procurement policies when awarding contracts”, it reads, “Procurement methods were not consistently justified”, “Security requirements were not enforced”, “There were weaknesses in contract monitoring”, “Information on suppliers' performance and rates was not collected and shared”, “Support for contract prices frequently lacked justification” and “Federal organizations made payments without evidence showing that all deliverables were received”.

Most people at home are probably wondering what on earth GC Strategies did. Well, it did basically nothing, except to take a lot of money for the ArriveCAN app. For a lot of people, if we tell them about the ArriveCAN app, it instantly triggers a reaction. It brings them back to a time of government overreach: people being forced into quarantine who should not have been, people not being allowed to leave or enter Canada and all kinds of issues like that. That is what people remember about ArriveCAN. GC Strategies is the company that was awarded a big contract. It was supposed to only cost about $80,000 for this app but ended up costing over $64 million. We do not even know the total cost of it, because the Auditor General could not get access to all of the information on it. That is what we are dealing with here today with our opposition day motion. We are demanding that the government get that money back.

I also want to bring people back to when we called Kristian Firth to the bar here. He was admonished by this House. However, there was a very telling element to that. One of the last questions that was asked of Mr. Firth before he was done was whether he felt any shame. His answer was that he did not. Then he just hopped up and walked out, and that was the end of it. He felt no shame. He took all this money, robbed the taxpayer and away he went.

I read out some of the things in the Auditor General report: the support for contract pricing, the lack of justification, that federal organizations had made payments without showing deliverables, the weaknesses in contract monitoring and the security requirements not being enforced. Why does that matter? There are a lot of reasons why that matters, but what it goes to is government responsibility.

Are ministers following up with their departments? Do they even know what their departments are doing? What this shows is a complete lack of leadership in the government among its ministers. What happened to those ministers? Most of them were re-elected and put back into cabinet. In a lot of cases, they were promoted to even higher portfolios, with more responsibility. They failed upwards. That is what was given to them by the Prime Minister. One would have thought that after Justin Trudeau stepped down as prime minister, and the supposed new government came in with a new leader, there would be some changes in the front bench of the Liberal government over there. There have not been.

They are the people who are ultimately responsible for this, because the buck stops with the ministers. The ministers need to know what is happening in their file and their department. There is no ministerial responsibility left, thanks to 10 years of the Liberal government. GC Strategies is just one of many examples of why people are so sick and tired of the government corruption coming from there.

I want to take us back to 2019, when I was first elected. One of the first subjects I stood up in this House to speak on was the Joe Peschisolido report; he was another former Liberal who was in breach of ethics. We also had the SNC-Lavalin scandal. We are all pretty familiar with what happened under that situation. Then we had the green slush fund, which seized this place up for a number of months prior to the election, talking about Liberal scandal again, and so many other scandals woven in between all of that.

We have new members from the government standing up to give their first speeches today. What are they giving their first speeches on? They are speaking on our motion on Liberal government scandal. It must be a little demoralizing over there, knowing they have to get up and talk about the scandals, the waste, the corruption and the fraud that has gone on and has permeated throughout the government for 10 years. That is what their first speech will be about.

As an opposition member, when I was first elected in 2019, to me it was no wonder we were talking about Liberal corruption and scandal. It was no shock, watching how Justin Trudeau ran this country. Therefore, when we look at the motion here today, it would seem that the very least the government could do is demand that the money that was stolen from Canadian taxpayers by GC Strategies, under false pretenses, be recouped and repaid. I hope the government takes it seriously. We have been hearing Liberals say, “Oh, we're going to take them to court," but then, "Well, maybe we're not taking it to court.” We do not know what is actually going to happen there.

The government needs to take this seriously. I hope this motion passes and that we see the taxpayers made whole, not just for the amount but maybe even for the interest that has accrued. Canadian taxpayers need to be made whole. I hope the government takes that seriously.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, people following this debate are getting a clear indication of priorities and focus. We have Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party. We should keep in mind that the election was on April 28. What are the Conservatives talking about? They talk about issues related to the last administration. No one was talking about that during the election. We have the Prime Minister, who continues to push the whole idea of building a stronger, healthier economy. That is—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Order. Many members are suggesting words the parliamentary secretary should use. The member has spoken many words; I am sure he can find them. I will let him finish his question and comment.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to see that there is a new Prime Minister and new administration, and the Conservatives are stuck in the past with previous administrations. They ask how new it is. An interesting fact is that the current Prime Minister has served in the House of Commons for 45 days, and Pierre Poilievre served for 7,609 days. Which one does the member think is newer to the House of Commons?

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the track record of the new Prime Minister. He spent four years advising Justin Trudeau. Is it possible, maybe, that the Prime Minister was advising behind the scenes on GC Strategies? Was he advising behind the scenes? We do not know because he will not file all of his disclosures. He may have been tied in with the Ethics Commissioner prior to becoming Prime Minister.

When we look at how new the Prime Minister is, the Liberals say he has only been on the job for 45 days. No, he has been here. He openly admitted he started advising Justin Trudeau back in 2020, so he is not new. He has been around the block for a long time.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are being treated to quite a show in today's debate.

The Liberals are throwing mud at the Conservatives, saying that the Harper government also awarded contracts to GC Strategies. The Conservatives respond by saying that that is not true and that the current situation between the Liberal Party and GC Strategies is worse.

Something rather historic happened yesterday. Every new minority government brings new coalitions. Yesterday, we witnessed the formation of a Liberal-Conservative coalition, which I now refer to as the “anti-Quebec alliance”. The Conservatives are fine with Quebeckers being cheated out of $814 million, and yet today, they are up in arms about the GC Strategies scandal.

I have just one question for my colleague. Why is it acceptable when it is Quebeckers who are being swindled?

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after the election was over, and even when we were at the doors during the campaign, people were very clear. They said that if the Conservatives formed government, they wanted to get answers on the Liberal scandals and see some accountability for the green slush fund, SNC-Lavalin, GC Strategies, the list goes on and on. Now that Conservatives are in opposition, they want us to keep pushing the government on these things.

As the opposition, we are going to continue to demand accountability for the things the government did in the past, because it is not a new government, and also the things it is going to do in the future. The best indicator of the future is the past. When we look at the Liberal government, we know exactly how this is going to go.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal members like to stand up and say it is a new government, it is a new day and it is a new Prime Minister, and that we should be looking forward, not backwards. If it is a new day, and a new man with a plan who has no ties to GC Strategies, why does he not just ask for the money back?

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for that great question. It should be really simple for the Prime Minister to say he was not part of that and demand the money back. It should be really easy for him to do that if is he is as new and as clean as Liberals say he is. However, because he has been behind the scenes for four or five years, I think it puts him in a tough spot to be the one to demand the money.

That is why the opposition is holding the government accountable with motions like this, demanding the money be recovered on behalf of the taxpayer. What happened was ridiculous, it was criminal, and people want to see accountability not just for Kristian Firth but for the government.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this is not my first rodeo, so to speak, in this place, so it is great to have this slot with all the members here. I know my Conservative colleagues in particular enjoy when I get up for debate. They will be champing at the bit to ask questions afterward. I am not our hon. colleague from Winnipeg North, so they have a fresh opportunity to engage with this side, although we do love our hon. colleague from Winnipeg North.

It is a pleasure to join this opposition day debate. Any member who knows me in this House knows that I enjoy the opportunity to litigate the text of motions and the ideas that the opposition puts forward in this place, and I intend to do that this afternoon, even if it is after question period and Statements by Members. I have had the opportunity to review the principal elements of this motion, and I look forward to speaking to those points and to some ancillary points that will be important for all members to think about in the days ahead regarding the way this government is advancing its agenda.

I want to start, from the hop, by talking about the fact that we are in week three of Parliament and this government is moving on significant issues of importance, including having one Canadian economy, defence spending up to 2% of our NATO target, working to make sure big projects get done and engagement on the international stage with the G7. This Parliament and this government are working, and I look forward to my opposition colleagues joining the efforts of what this government is trying to get accomplished. It is clear from public opinion and clear from the election results on April 28 that Canadians like what they are seeing from this Prime Minister, his government and the leadership regarding what we are trying to get accomplished with this new government, moving forward.

The Conservative motion speaks to a company called GC Strategies. This was a two-person firm, an IT contractor. Canadians who have been watching the debate and the way that members have engaged may not recognize that the government, from day one of the Auditor General's report, has wanted to work to implement the what is in the reports.

There was an absolute failure of procurement at the civil service level. It is important to separate those two things, because when we hear the way Conservative members in this place raise this issue, and we agree that it is an important issue to be raised, we hear the suggestion in their language that Liberal ministers themselves were involved in this. No, this was a failure of procurement at the civil service level.

I know there are some new members to this House, particularly on the other side. It is important to separate our Westminster tradition into the elected element of government versus the civil servants who do the work on behalf of government. Yes, there is ministerial accountability, and the ministers of the former Liberal government have engaged and worked to move forward, but at the end of the day, there is a separation. I would caution Conservative colleagues, when they stand in this place, to separate the difference, because they make clips of these things and send them home to their constituents, and Canadians who are not watching closely would be led to believe from the comments of the members on the opposite side that ministers themselves were absolutely involved with what we on the government side suggest was a failure of procurement.

That is a difference. That is about our level of engagement. It is a responsibility of every parliamentarian in this House to show a level of nuance, not to clip things, send them home and suggest that Liberal members or ministers are corrupt. That is dangerous language. That is not the way we should move forward.

After we go to members' statements, I look forward to continuing to litigate this argument because it is important. I look forward to talking about the ways the government is addressing the concerns the opposition is raising and how we will have a process to get the money back for taxpayers.

Authentic Creation

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since time immemorial, the arts have been an integral part of human life. From the Lascaux cave paintings to film, music, dance and poetry, all peoples throughout time have expressed themselves through art. It makes the world a more beautiful place, it inspires, it stirs our emotions, it brings love and meaning into our lives. When we marvel at a work of art, a symphony or a painting, we connect with the essence of who we are. Art is also the ability to empathize with the characters in a novel, to imagine oneself in another's shoes. It is a multitude of pathways to the humanity we all share, because creation is a human act.

Today, that very essence is under threat. On June 9, representatives of more than 25,000 Quebec artists published a manifesto in defence of authentic creation because, every day, artificial intelligence steals work without consent or compensation. AI-generated content must be identified, and the government must protect creators and their copyright, because culture is fundamentally human.

Bay of Quinte Cider Company

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great company in my riding of Bay of Quinte that is celebrating a major milestone this month. Located in Waupoos, The County Cider Company will be 30 years in business this June and is Ontario's longest-running craft cider company.

County Cider first started fermenting cider for the public back in 1995 and was founded by Grant Howes. Known as the grandfather of Ontario cider, Grant, who passed in 2017, created an institution that now attracts thousands of tourists each season. County Cider is now helmed by Grant's partner Jenifer Dean, who continues this legacy of helping others in the industry and promoting the county at large.

This Saturday, June 14, they are hosting an anniversary party at their estate. All are welcome.

For its importance to Prince Edward County and the Ontario craft cider industry as a whole, I want to congratulate County Cider on this incredible accomplishment.

Message of Faith

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, as Canadians prepare to celebrate Canada Day, we are reminded of the foundations upon which our country was built. When the Fathers of Confederation founded this country in 1867, they recognized that Canada's strength would rest not only on law and government, but on the recognition of God's authority. There are 25 verses from the Bible in the architecture of Parliament, such as Psalm 72:8, which says, “he shall have dominion from sea to sea”.

From these stone walls, the words taken from God's word remind us that freedom does not come from bureaucrats, global bodies or unelected elites. It comes from hard work, personal responsibility and the recognition of a higher authority. These words teach us that good government needs vision, justice and accountability to the people and to God.

As Canada Day approaches, let us give thanks to God for the blessings of freedom, peace and abundance, and recommit ourselves to being faithful to the biblical principles that have guided our nation since its birth. God keep our land glorious and free.

Anne Ring

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dartmouth—Cole Harbour's Anne Ring, an extraordinary educator, athlete and community leader whose warmth and spirit touched all who knew her.

Anne led with heart in everything that she did, from hatching chicks in her classroom for the students to empowering young minds as a beloved principal. She brought joy and creativity to learning and believed deeply in the potential of every child. A national record-holding swimmer, ringette player, paddler, coach and Girl Guide leader, Anne had boundless energy. She skydived, scuba-dived, rode motorcycles and lived life fully and fearlessly.

I had the pleasure of getting to know Anne better through her passionate work to preserve and modernize the Banook Canoe Club. She was kind, smart and deeply committed to leaving this legacy for future generations on the lake she loved.

Anne Ring led a remarkable life. My thoughts are with her husband and all those who knew and loved her.

Retirement Congratulations

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour John Yakabuski, the recently retired MPP for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

Following in his father Paul Yakabuski's footsteps, John was first elected in 2003. His 22 years of service left an indelible mark. I heard him called Paul as often as John. He always took that as a compliment, having lived up to his father's standards.

John was the singing MPP, not just O Canada on solemn occasions, but crooning a repertoire of Mac Beattie. As minister of natural resources, John was a steadfast leader during Ottawa Valley crises, swiftly mobilizing aid to combat spring floods and marshalling firefighters against summer wildfires. His compassion shone through in initiatives like his 2010 album Taking Care, which raised funds for long-term care homes.

John's legacy is one of service, song and strength. We salute the remarkable contributions he made to the Ottawa Valley.

Nova Music Festival Exhibition

[Vince Gasparro, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, I had the opportunity to visit the Nova Exhibition in my riding of Eglinton—Lawrence for the second time. It was my first visit alongside the member of Parliament for Toronto—St. Paul's and the Prime Minister. The exhibition commemorates the brutal massacre carried out by Hamas at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, which tragically claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis and eight Canadians and had over 251 men, women and children taken hostage.

The exhibition is deeply moving as it retraces the harrowing events of October 7 and highlights the resilience of those who attended the festival. Sadly, it requires heightened security, a stark reminder of the continued threats faced by the Jewish community.

Just this week, the National Holocaust Monument was vandalized right here in Ottawa. We must stand united against the global rise of anti-Semitism. This exhibition stands as a timely and powerful call to confront anti-Semitism.

Women Veterans

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, one year ago today, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs released a landmark report. “Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans” was the first of its kind, finally putting on record women veterans' unique and often painful stories. From poor equipment more likely to injure than protect to unimaginable sexual trauma, more than 50 women showed their immense courage in sharing with the committee the realities of their service.

A tireless advocate for women veterans, Dr. Karen Breeck, rightly said:

I hope a day like this isn't just about appreciation for our service—I hope it becomes a day where women Veterans engage with their communities and parliamentarians to work together toward making things better for the next generation of women who wish to serve their country

I am honoured and humbled to stand in the presence of the incredible veterans joining us today in recognition of women veterans appreciation day. This is not a day for meaningless platitudes, but measurable action. It is my hope that this report paves the way for countless more women to serve Canada with pride and dignity.

South Shore—St. Margarets

[Jessica Fancy-Landry, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as I rise today with my first member's statement, I do so with deep gratitude for the fine people of South Shore—St. Margarets. I thank them for placing their trust in me in this historic election. I want to thank my partner Ken, my daughter, the thousands of students I taught for over 17 years in my career as an educator, and my family and friends for being my rock. I also want to thank the incredible volunteers who gave their time, energy and knowledge in this effort. We concluded with 87 events in a 37-day election.

South Shore—St. Margarets is the heart of Canada's ocean playground. From Barrington to Tantallon, Caledonia to Lunenburg, our region is strong, resilient and full of heart. Together, in the House, let us invest in and build a future guided by compassion, opportunity, partnerships and strength, especially in rural Canada.

Canadian Energy Sector

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has spent 10 years strangling Canada's energy sector with red tape and anti-energy laws and policy. The world came to us to ask for our help in supporting its energy security, and the former Liberal prime minister said no, that there was no business case.

The fact is that pipelines and infrastructure will not be built because of four Liberal laws: Bill C-69, the “no new pipelines” act; Bill C-48, the west coast shipping ban; the job-killing oil and gas production cap; and the industrial carbon tax. Canada does not need the Liberal government to build pipelines. Canada needs the Liberal government to get out of the way so that the private sector can build our infrastructure and, in fact, make Canada an energy superpower.

Canadians call on the Liberal government to repeal their anti-energy laws and not just add more red tape to the pile. Let us stop the self-sabotage.

275th Anniversary of Mascouche

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Mascouche is celebrating its 275th anniversary. This city, whose name comes from an Algonquin word meaning “bear cub”, is one of the oldest communities in Quebec.

Known for its history and architectural heritage, this city has transcended time and has has reinvented itself from one century to the next. What sets it apart is the special way it blends nature and bucolic charm with a vibrant city life. This duality gives it a certain je ne sais quoi that creates a unique atmosphere. I know what I am talking about, as I have lived there for 35 years.

When I think of Mascouche, I think of Jardin Moore, the equestrian trail, the walking trail on the seigneurial estate, the beautiful farmland, the Chez-Nous du Communautaire des Moulins co-operative, festivals like Grande Tribu, CHAPO, Frissons and Octenbulle, as well as the Côte à Côte theatre and the many family-friendly celebrations that make Mascouche a great place for young families.

I wish the people of Mascouche a happy 275th anniversary.

Long-Term Care

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, June 13 marks the second annual National Long-Term Care Day in Canada. Whether it is in Etobicoke Centre or across Canada, long-term care plays a vital role in the health and the quality of care of Canadians. In fact, over 200,000 Canadians currently reside in long-term care across Canada.

Today is important for a number of reasons: first of all, to remember the importance of long-term care; second, to thank the volunteers, the staff and the family members who give care to seniors in our long-term care homes. It is also a day when we can redouble our efforts to improve the quality of care in long-term care homes across Canada. Many seniors receive very good care, but there are still too many seniors in long-term care who do not receive the quality of care they deserve.

That is why I am proud to have advocated, along with a number of caucus colleagues a number of years ago, for the federal government to establish national standards for long-term care. The federal government did that. Now we need the provinces to adopt those standards, if we are going to make a difference for seniors in long-term care.

I hope that today we take this opportunity to advocate with provincial governments across Canada that they adopt the national standards so seniors get the quality of care they deserve.

Public Services and Procurement

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General's report is scathing.

GC Strategies received $64 million from the Liberal government, but in many cases, there was no evidence that any work had been done. GC Strategies is a two-person company that has received $64 million since the Liberals came to power. The estimated cost of the ArriveCAN app was $80,000, but in the end it cost upwards of $64 million. That is not double, triple or even quadruple the estimate; it is 800 times the amount. Had this happened in the private sector, everyone in the chain of command would have been laid off or fired, but these Liberal ministers were promoted.

A Conservative motion will be moved today, and I hope the vote will be unanimous.

Field of Dreams Grant Recipients

[Braedon Clark, Liberal, Sackville—Bedford—Preston, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate two local organizations in Sackville—Bedford—Preston that were recently selected for the 2025 Field of Dreams grants through the Jays Care Foundation.

Sackville Minor Baseball will receive funding from the Toronto Blue Jays' official charity to refurbish Les Mayo Field in Lower Sackville, while the LWF Hardball Association will see upgrades to George P. Vanier Field in Waverly. These upgrades are part of a national push to revamp local ball fields and give more kids a chance to play in safe, welcoming spaces.

Sport gives young people more than just exercise. It teaches teamwork and discipline. It helps kids find their footing, build friendships and feel like they belong, on and off the field.

Summer is coming, and with it the boys and girls of summer will soon be playing the great game of baseball on improved fields, thanks to the Jays Care Foundation.

Good luck to all players and coaches, and have a wonderful season.

Public Services and Procurement

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General's damning ArriveCAN audit confirms that the Liberal government failed to protect taxpayers' money. An app that was supposed to cost $80,000 ballooned to at least $60 million, and due to the poor record-keeping, the true total may never be known.

The Liberals handed GC Strategies contracts despite it being under RCMP investigation and lacking proper security clearances. They did not verify qualifications, did not verify market rates and, in many cases, did not even confirm that the work was done. That is not just incompetence; it is negligence, and the Trudeau ministers responsible were promoted.

GC Strategies gets to keep the cash while Canadians are struggling to make ends meet. Accepting the Auditor General's findings is simply not enough. The Liberals must take action, recover the wasted funds and repay Canadian taxpayers.