GC Strategies managing partner Kristian Firth was admonished by the house speaker Greg Fergus in Canadian Parliament, an event that hasn’t happened in over 100 years, and shortly after claimed he suffered from mental health issues which a Liberal MP asked about in an attempt to pause the entire spectacle.
Firth was brought before the bar of the house and ordered to respond to questions that he previously refused to answer—or lied about—during committee hearings investigating the ArriveCan App scandal.
Firth’s 2-person tech firm was awarded over $50 million, according to Canada’s auditor general, though Firth claims it was just $11 million.
“I admonish you in addition the house orders you to respond to the questions you refuse to answer in committee in whole or in part and to respond to any supplementary questions,” Fergus said.
“I’m supposed to not participate in any activity that would cause any undue stress as being diagnosed with having acute mental health flare ups,” Firth said before MPs from all parties.
Firth added that he’s “actively undergoing therapy” and on medication.
Firth is accused of working with Liberal insiders on a contract worth millions of taxpayer dollars that they got paid for but did nothing on, instead simply subcontracted it out. In February, the auditor general’s report revealed a “glaring disregard” on behalf of the Liberals for what should be fundamental management and contracting practices.
The report also found that GC Strategies was involved in developing the eligibility criteria for the contract they were ultimately awarded.
Firth told MPs on Wednesday that he believes the auditor general’s comments were “subjective.”
“There were 635 other venders out there,” Firth said. “It’s hard to assume that we were the only people qualified on this.”
Coincidentally, all of this took place on the same day that the RCMP raided Firth’s house, which he admitted in Parliament, but said it was related to a separate issue than the ArriveCan scandal.
Evolving stories
Firth originally told committee members that he didn’t speak with government officials outside of work. Then he flip-flopped, and said he did and would provide a list of names within twenty-four hours, which he never did.
Asked why he previously lied about having met with government officials before being awarded the contract, Firth said on Wednesday that it was an understandable mistake because he couldn’t remember how many officials he met with.
“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?” asked NNP Taylor Bachrach. “Why did he mislead the committee by answering that question in the negative?”
“My. Speaker, at the time I thought I did answer that question correctly,” Firth replied.
Bachrach responded “I have a hard time believing that to be true.”
The Conservatives accused Firth of protecting Liberal insiders, with MP Larry Brock asking if he’s willing to go to jail to protect them.
“I understand that the witness lied a number of times in committee. Can Mr. Firth confirm that he avoided naming his sources in the Liberal government’s laxed approach to procurement?”
“Mr. Speaker, no I didn’t,” Firth replied.
