QUESTION PERIOD — Public Services and Procurement
Procurement Process
February 14, 2024
My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Leader, we learned the following from Minister Duclos, and I quote:
Out of caution, all of the GC Strategies contracts have been suspended since November 2023 to enable my department to do what needs to be done.
That was nearly four months ago. Who has been investigating over the past four months? What are the results of that investigation?
Thank you for the question. Are you talking about the contracts with —
With GC Strategies.
I understand which company, but the contracts were suspended with the Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA. Now the contracts that were awarded to any company are all suspended.
As I mentioned several times, an internal investigation is being conducted at the CBSA. At the agency’s request, the police are also investigating those contracts. As I said earlier today, the other contracts awarded to that company have all been suspended and an investigation is under way.
Leader, Minister Duclos also said the following, and I quote:
We noted troubling findings, not only for GC Strategies, but also for other companies that worked on ArriveCAN . . . .
What other companies?
Thank you for the question. I do not have the list of companies in front of me, but if memory serves me correctly, the contract was likely suspended for the company you mentioned. Other companies that had contracts or subcontracts had their contracts suspended, but I do not have the list with me.
