Minister, your government has stated that all contracts with GC Strategies — the company at the heart of “ArriveScam” — have been suspended since November. But yesterday, Senator Gold stated it was the Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA, that requested all contracts to be halted. Does that sound like it’s in regard to CBSA only, or does CBSA have a say over contracts in other departments?

He also stated that pending the outcome of a review, contracts with this company could be suspended. Is it “could be” or is it “already are”? Senator Gold also stated that while contracts with CBSA had previously been suspended, it is only now that this applies government-wide. Which is it? Is it now, or was it in November?

Perhaps you can clear up some of the confusion by telling us if Veterans Affairs or National Defence is still doing business with GC Strategies. If not, when were the contracts and work suspended? What date? How were you informed of the suspension of the contracts? Has the work they were doing been outsourced, or is it now being done in-house?

Thank you, minister. Regarding the gravity of the situation, and what the government has said about contracts with GC Strategies being stopped, it’s amazing that you wouldn’t know, minister, about your two departments in question.

Considering the Auditor General’s scathing rebuke of the recordkeeping and basic management practices of the department involved, I fail to see how these same people are best suited to be investigating themselves.

Can you tell me who is conducting the review of contracts in your departments? When does that review begin, and when is it expected to conclude? Will your government refer all contracts with GC Strategies to the RCMP and Auditor General for a proper investigation by the AG and the RCMP?