One of the partners at GC Strategies said Thursday that it does not know the answers to many of the questions posed by lawmakers on a parliamentary committee investigating the ArriveCan controversy.
GC Strategies was one of the contractors involved in the pandemic-era project, which the comptroller’s office estimated cost was just under $60 million.
Darren Anthony, a partner at GC Strategies, appeared before the House of Commons Government Operations Committee. His partner Christian Firth appeared separately on Wednesday.
In his opening statement, Mr. Anthony told the committee that he had little to do with ArriveCan’s subcontractors other than applying for security clearances.
“I will answer all the questions that I have the knowledge to answer to the best of my ability,” he said.
“Mr. Firth has been responsible for all projects related to coronavirus and the pandemic response, so there is little I can offer as insight into the current work of this committee.”
After his opening statement, Anthony said he could not answer several questions asked by MPs about the GC strategy, including one that did not specifically mention the ArriveCan app.
Darren Anthony, a vice president at GC Strategies, a central figure in the ArriveCan controversy, said he had not read the auditor general’s report examining his company’s business practices. Canada’s AG estimates that developing the pandemic-era tool cost taxpayers nearly $60 million.
NDP MP Taylor Bachrach asked Anthony what his role was within the company in relation to Firth. Anthony responded that he was a vice president of the company and was only responsible for the contracts he signed, but that he and Firth were “50-50 owners.”
“What is your fiduciary responsibility as a company owner? Is it only to your contract or to the corporation?” Bacharach asked.
“I don’t know the answer to that,” Anthony replied. When Bachrach asked again, he stuck to his answer.
“I think that’s amazing,” Bachrach said.
Conservative MP Michael Barrett asked Anthony who had provided the testimonials published on the GC Strategies website. Barrett cited numerous endorsements from unnamed government officials, including an unnamed vice president of a “major Crown corporation” and an assistant to the deputy minister.
“You say you are a ‘vice president of a major Crown corporation.’ Is it a mystery to you who that person is?” Barrett asked.
“That’s right,” Anthony replied.
When Barrett asked Anthony if the testimonials on the company’s website were fake, Anthony replied, “I don’t know.”
Kristian Firth, one of the partners at GC Strategies, defended the amount his firm was paid for the ArriveCan app during an appearance before a House of Commons committee.
In his testimony, Firth disputed the auditor general’s report that found GC Strategies received about $19 million for its ArriveCan efforts.
Firth said the company instead received nearly $11 million from ArriveCan, and blamed the government’s poor record-keeping for the discrepancy. Auditor General Karen Horgan noted in her report that the total cost of the project was “impossible to determine” due to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) bookkeeping.
Anthony said he agreed that Hogan’s report was inaccurate. But when Mr Bachrach asked if he had read the report, Mr Anthony said he had not.
When Bachrach asked how he could dispute Hogan’s findings if he hadn’t read the report, Anthony said he agreed with Firth’s assessment.
After Mr Bachrach’s questions, Conservative MP Larry Bullock criticized Mr Anthony for not reading the Auditor General’s report.
“How on earth could they prepare for this hearing in less than 20 minutes to read the actual report? I find it absolutely astonishing, frankly. , that reflects very poorly on your credibility,” Block said.
Hogan said he found little documentation of how or why GC Strategies was selected for the ArriveCan effort.
Mr. Hogan also reported that GC Strategies was involved in developing the requirements that were later used in the competitive agreement. The contract, worth $25 million, was awarded to GC Strategies, according to reports.
The report also raised concerns about CBSA officials’ close relationships with certain contractors, noting that the officials in question had been invited “to dinners and other activities.”
Mr. Firth said Wednesday that he met with some government officials after hours, but Mr. Anthony said he was not involved in any entertainment events.
