Public Accounts committee  I don't recall any direction from the Privy Council Office to get this done. It was really just us trying to help the Public Health Agency do their part. Obviously, we were a key lever in terms of advising them about what was operationally possible at the border, because we are the experts on how the border works, but in terms of the information they wanted and how they chose to proceed with the orders in council, there was no pressure on us.

Public Accounts committee  To be clear, I was subject to all kinds of post-employment conflict of interest requirements, which I have always scrupulously maintained and adhered to. I have very limited direct interaction with government clients. I'm more of a back-office strategic adviser support person.

Public Accounts committee  I still am subject to all kinds of limitations in terms of lobbying and things like that, but I had a one-year cooling-off period. I'm not allowed to switch sides. They're all outlined in the Conflict of Interest Act, and my initial employment with the firm was approved by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.

Public Accounts committee  It's not for me to disagree. The agency has agreed with them and is putting in steps to make the appropriate changes.

Public Accounts committee  The procurement process is a very, very complicated regime, for lack of better words. I think that there is room for improvements and these types of things as a result of what we've discovered through the committee's work on ArriveCAN.

Public Accounts committee  I'm really not a specialist in procurement. I think there is always room for things to be better. I think the government will always need the support of the private sector as it's trying to do transformative and big-system changes, and finding a co-operative way forward would behoove both industry and the government.

Public Accounts committee  No, that's it. I think I'm good. Thank you.

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Chair, shall I respond?

Public Accounts committee  My responsibilities as the accounting officer are laid out in section 16 of the FAA. With respect to some of the findings that you're referring to, those are delegated down into the organization. Ultimately, the person who signs off on section 34 of the FAA is attesting to the fact that the goods or services have been received.

Public Accounts committee  Yes.

Public Accounts committee  I think that question would be better posed to the agency.

Public Accounts committee  I have no recollection of being involved in the contracting around McKinsey.

Public Accounts committee  I have no recollection of how much was spent with McKinsey.

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Chair, I am here as an individual. I'm sure Ms. O'Gorman has officials watching the testimony today who are taking note of the request.

Public Accounts committee  Just to go over this again, when I initially replied to Mr. Barrett's question in December 2022, I did so as an individual, with no support from the department and with no access to my information. Mr. Curry subsequently found out that there was another meeting completely unrelated to ArriveCAN.