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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
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:21:21 p.m.
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It being 3:20 p.m., pursuant to order made on Monday, April 8, the House will now proceed to the appearance of Kristian Firth at the bar of the House.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Hon. Steven MacKinnon (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)
  • Apr/17/24 3:33:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, could Mr. Firth inform the House as to whether he consulted with a medical professional, prior to his appearance today, regarding answering questions from the House?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Hon. Steven MacKinnon
  • Apr/17/24 3:34:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, is Mr. Firth comfortable sharing what the doctor told him?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Hon. Steven MacKinnon
  • Apr/17/24 3:34:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, was the information about Mr. Firth's medical condition shared with the House of Commons administration?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Hon. Steven MacKinnon
  • Apr/17/24 3:35:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, certainly, by all means. Was the information about Mr. Firth's medical condition shared with the House of Commons administration?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Hon. Steven MacKinnon
  • Apr/17/24 3:35:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this information is consistent with what was shared with all recognized parties yesterday individually by the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel: Mr. Firth's health is fragile, and a doctor has provided a note recommending that Mr. Firth does not participate in activities such as the questioning today for mental and physical health reasons. We were also told that Mr. Firth understands he will have to answer questions and that he is prepared to do so once his health allows it. I want to be crystal clear: We believe that what happened with the ArriveCAN app is unacceptable. We want to ensure that all unanswered questions receive answers. That is an important principle of the House. It is why we supported the motion that brings Mr. Firth here today. We want to get to the bottom of this issue, and we want to ensure that committees are respected. We understand all recognized parties were individually informed of options to delay the questioning component of today's proceedings until Mr. Firth has been medically cleared to participate. Only the Conservatives refused. On this side of the House, we do not believe it is appropriate to question Mr. Firth if he is not medically able to participate. We want this to be done in a way that respects the dignity of Parliament, and forcing someone against medical advice to do something a doctor believes could harm their treatment and recovery is indeed beneath the dignity of this place. The Leader of the Opposition is giving us a demonstration of his character, and Canadians should pay careful attention— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mr. Michael Barrett
  • Apr/17/24 3:45:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know from committee testimony that Mr. Firth has admitted to doing exactly that. Today, media reports that Mr. Firth's property was raided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. What crime are they investigating?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mr. Michael Barrett
  • Apr/17/24 3:45:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have also confirmed that GC Strategies and ArriveCAN are under police investigation. Has the RCMP contacted Mr. Firth about allegations related specifically to the Prime Minister's $60-million arrive scam?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mr. Michael Barrett
  • Apr/17/24 3:46:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in the search of Mr. Firth's home, did the RCMP take only electronic devices, or were there documents, cellphones or any other information?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mr. Michael Barrett
  • Apr/17/24 3:46:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, does Mr. Firth know if the property of his partner, Darren Anthony, has been searched by the RCMP?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:47:19 p.m.
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Mr. Firth, do you need time to consult with your counsel?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mrs. Kelly Block (Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, CPC)
  • Apr/17/24 3:50:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the procurement ombudsman found that 76% of resources named in bids on the ArriveCAN contracts did no work and were switched out for other companies. He termed this “bait and switch”, which is often used to sub out expensive subcontractors for cheaper ones, allowing the middlemen to take home more profit. Did Mr. Firth switch out any of his proposed resources on the ArriveCAN application contracts?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mrs. Kelly Block
  • Apr/17/24 3:51:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, through you, has Mr. Firth ever engaged in bait and switch in any of his contracts with the Government of Canada?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mrs. Kelly Block
  • Apr/17/24 3:51:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General found in her ArriveCAN report that Mr. Firth sat at the table with public servants to draft the requirements for a contract worth $25 million that he was later awarded and, thereby, was setting the price. Through you, what are the names of those public servants?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mrs. Kelly Block
  • Apr/17/24 3:52:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is in direct contradiction to the name that was submitted by Mr. Firth as a direct answer to this question to me at a committee last month. Why is the answer changing today?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mr. Taylor Bachrach
  • Apr/17/24 4:09:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the question was not how many government officials or how many times. The question was a yes or no question. Had Mr. Firth met with government officials outside of work? Why did he mislead the committee by answering that question in the negative?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mr. Taylor Bachrach
  • Apr/17/24 4:09:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have a very difficult time accepting that answer and believing that answer to be the truth. The other question of substance that I believe we are here to seek an answer to is with regard to which government official Mr. Firth discussed the criteria for a contract that was eventually awarded to him. I believe he has provided that name as being Diane Daly. Can Mr. Firth confirm that this is indeed the government official with whom he discussed the contract criteria?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mr. Taylor Bachrach
  • Apr/17/24 4:10:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think, for Canadians watching, this is really the most troubling of the allegations, that Mr. Firth, on behalf of his company, was involved in setting the rules and the criteria for a multi-million-dollar contract that, strangely enough, his firm was eventually awarded with. To most Canadians, this would look like, and I will not exaggerate, a rigged system that is designed to benefit Ottawa insiders and make it more difficult for entrepreneurs and small businesses in this country to do work for the government. Does Mr. Firth not agree?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mr. Taylor Bachrach
  • Apr/17/24 4:12:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians are deeply troubled by the allegations and revelations surrounding the ArriveCAN app. Could Mr. Firth, in his own words, describe what those concerns are, precisely?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
Mr. Taylor Bachrach
  • Apr/17/24 4:13:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, at committee, when Mr. Firth was asked about which government official he discussed the contract criteria with, he refused to answer, citing the fact that the RCMP was now involved at some level in looking into the circumstances surrounding the ArriveCAN app, yet the rules of Parliament and the laws of Canada do not accept that as a valid reason to refuse to answer a question of Parliament. Does Mr. Firth accept the fact that the rules required him, at the time, to provide a full answer to our questions at committee?
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