GC Strategies Executive Claims Unawareness During Parliamentary Inquiry into ArriveCan, As He Made Millions

The company contracted to develop the ArriveCan app stated it received millions less in payment than previously reported by Canada’s auditor general last month.

GC Strategies partner Kristian Firth appeared at the government operations committee Wednesday alongside his lawyer, testifying that false claims have been made about his company which has led to threats to him and his family.

Firth meticulously reviewed invoices and consulted with contractors, determining that GC Strategies received approximately $11 million for developing the app. He further mentions that the company kept $2.5 million dollars while the rest of the money was handed over to other contractors who helped to develop the app.

Last month, the cost of the app was more than $60 million and GC Strategies was paid more than $19 million, but the government’s record-keeping was inadequate, reported by the Auditor General. Firth also claims that the information spread over the media about his company is false.

“I’m disputing that $19.1 million is completely attributable to the ArriveCan application build,” Firth said.

He mentions that he provided some information to the auditor general Karen Hogan, which seems to be not reflecting in her final report. Therefore, there are discrepancies between his and her numbers.

Firth said the auditor’s estimate included figures that had been billed up until May 2023, even though the app’s build was finished in July 2022.

“So there’s another year’s worth of billing there which may not have been ArriveCan,” Firth said. Further adding that the auditor wouldn’t have had access to the detailed records he has and moreover adds that he submitted the reports to the committee three times.

“So you may see one for $200,000 but only $120,000 was actually used,” Firth said.

“This is, again, where these inflated numbers can come from, because there’s just not the financial system in place that can do real-time health checks.”

Wednesday marks the third time Firth has testified before MPs about the issue. His business partner Darren Anthony is set to meet the committee on Thursday.

“We can only conclude that this televised nature of today’s meeting aids in political goal-scoring, while simultaneously using us as media fodder at the expense of our health and the safety of our families,” Firth said.

Last week, the government suspended the security status of GC Strategies, which prevents it from bidding or working on government contracts.

Navneet Kaur