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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 301

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 17, 2024 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Apr/17/24 5:21:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the witness has asked if he has to provide responses. I would submit to you that the whole reason he is here is that he has refused to provide responses. This is why the House is taking this matter so seriously.
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The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 5:21:41 p.m.
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What I understood Mr. Firth to say to the hon. member was whether he had to provide a response to the Speaker of the House. The point that I was making before, in terms of the order that the House had set out, the order that the House had passed, was that the testimony brought here will be referred to the committee. The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.
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Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Apr/17/24 5:22:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, will the witness provide the response, in writing, to the question I have asked, which he claims to be unable to answer? Will he provide it in writing, within 14 days, to the Speaker and to the committee, yes or no?
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Mr. Kristian Firth
  • Apr/17/24 5:22:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yes, I will.
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Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Apr/17/24 5:22:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, why did the government go to GC Strategies for this sort of advice? How did GC Strategies become a favoured contractor and adviser regarding RFPs to the Government of Canada?
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Mr. Kristian Firth
  • Apr/17/24 5:22:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I got my first contract in 2011 and have done that subsequently by just responding to RFPs. It is flattering to be a recognized person who can provide requirements and help for the federal government.
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Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Apr/17/24 5:23:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is very flattering indeed. According to committee testimony, Mr. Firth received $2,600 per hour spent working on ArriveCAN. That is substantially more than the earnings of an average NHL player. It is very flattering that they came to him for advice. It is very flattering that he was paid so much. Does he see this as a reasonable rate of compensation for what he did?
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Mr. Kristian Firth
  • Apr/17/24 5:23:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, again, in the testimony, they were quoting hours towards ArriveCAN. We had 22 other departments and 20 other contracts we were working on at the same time. It is impossible for me to spend 250 hours on one contract when I have to service and maintain other projects with other clients.
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Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Apr/17/24 5:24:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, is the witness involved with any other companies?
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Mr. Kristian Firth
  • Apr/17/24 5:24:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, just my holdco, which is the 50% owner of GC Strategies.
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Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Apr/17/24 5:24:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what is that holdco, and does it do business with the Government of Canada?
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Mr. Kristian Firth
  • Apr/17/24 5:24:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my holdco is a numbered company that was used to register the name GC Strategies.
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Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Apr/17/24 5:24:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, does it do business with the Government of Canada directly?
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Mr. Kristian Firth
  • Apr/17/24 5:24:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it does not.
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Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Apr/17/24 5:24:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the witness discussed the health of contracts outside the office with Paul Girard, Treasury Board CIO. Did he discuss replacing resources or increasing resources at that time?
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Mr. Kristian Firth
  • Apr/17/24 5:25:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have had many conversations with Paul Girard. I cannot remember every single one of them.
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Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Apr/17/24 5:25:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, did he discuss new contracts? Since he claims to be unable to answer that question, will he respond to it in writing as well?
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Mr. Kristian Firth
  • Apr/17/24 5:25:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, sorry, I thought I did answer the question.
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The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 5:25:27 p.m.
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I am going to ask the hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan to rephrase the question.
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Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Apr/17/24 5:25:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in meetings outside the office with Paul Girard, did they discuss replacing resources or increasing resources? Did they discuss new contracts? If the witness is unable to answer that question, will he provide a response in writing?
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