Evidence of meeting #132 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rcmp.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
As you know, it was referred to us by the CBSA through Botler AI. ArriveCAN came in after that. There are multiple other complaints made that we are currently investigating.
I invite Mr. Flynn—if that's okay with you, Mr. Chair—to add to my response.
4:55 p.m.
D/Commr Mark Flynn
To add some precision to that, all of the additional investigations I referred to earlier are not specific to ArriveCAN, CBSA or the Botler AI matter. They are broader procurement matters and, as you can understand since there's more attention in this space, there are additional investigations and complaints that come to our attention.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
It was testified in Mr. Firth's House of Commons appearance that Diane Daly, a CBSA official and former procurement manager, helped GC Strategies to write the RFP that they eventually won. Are you investigating that?
4:55 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
Again, Mr. Chair, I'm not going to comment on the specifics of the investigation. This came up through a committee. I'm not at liberty to explain any further with regard to our criminal investigation.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
In March 2022, Ms. Daly sent an email to Botler demanding that they turn over all their records to Dalian and Coradix, even though they had no contractual obligations to do so. These documents were evidence of misconduct.
Have you seen any additional indication that certain officials went out of their way to mess with the evidence of misconduct?
4:55 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
Again, Mr. Chair, I'm not going to speculate or even respond to any questions pertaining directly to the investigation.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I'll keep asking the questions. You're here, I'm a guest, and I have a little bit of time left.
According to you, Commissioner, would it have been possible for a company like GC Strategies to operate without support from government insiders and networks?
4:55 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
Mr. Chair, that's not for me to answer.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I'll try an easy one for you.
How did you decide that the report warranted an investigation?
4:55 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
We received a complaint, assessed the complaint and began our investigation.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
4:55 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
As soon as we get a complaint, it's an investigation.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
4:55 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
I don't have the exact timeline. I can go through some of the timelines we had from the time we got the complaint, but—
4:55 p.m.
NDP
4:55 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
It was from CBSA, and it was January 31, 2023.
4:55 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
It was the next day. I don't have the exact information on that, but it would have started after the complaint.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
According to your investigation's mandate, what would be considered criminal activity in this case?
4:55 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
I'm not going to refer to this specific case, but in any investigation that we do, there are a series of offences under the Criminal Code that could apply to investigations we do.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
The Auditor General in her report said that she found no evidence to show that some CBSA employees complied with the agency's code of conduct by disclosing that they had been invited to dinners and other activities by contractors. Mr. Cameron MacDonald and Mr. Antonio Utano have been named in the GC's insider contracts.
Are you investigating their associations and their contact throughout the ArriveCAN project?
5 p.m.
Commr Michael Duheme
Again, Mr. Chair, this is part of the investigation that I'm not going to comment on.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you Mr. Green.
We'll begin our second round.
Mr. Barrett, you have the floor for five minutes.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Commissioner, you confirmed that the RCMP raided the home of Mr. Kristian Firth of GC Strategies. Why did you take the unusual step of informing the public of that search?