GC Strategies partner Kristian Firth testified in the House of Commons on Wednesday that the RCMP has raided one of his properties, but said it was not related to the ArriveCan app.
Firth’s IT firm is the main contractor behind the controversial pandemic-era program, but he told the House of Commons during a rare series of questioning from members of Parliament that the Mounties paid him a visit.
“There was a search warrant, not an arrest warrant, for my property to obtain electronic goods surrounding the Botler allegations,” Firth said in response to a question from Conservative MP Michael Barrett.
“The RCMP has only reached out to us regarding Botler.”
Botler AI — a Montreal-based tech company — had raised concerns about GC Strategies’ contracting practices.
The RCMP previously said it was “investigating a matter referred from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) based on allegations brought to their attention by Botler AI.”
The revelation the RCMP raided his property came during Firth’s testimony before the House of Commons Wednesday.
He was ordered to appear, after being held in contempt of Parliament for refusing to answer questions to a House committee about the pandemic-era project.
The last time a private citizen received this rebuke was 1913. Since then, a handful of private citizens have received the reprimand, but none were forced to answer questions in the House.
ArriveCan cost at least $59 million dollars, but the auditor general found it was impossible to determine the final amount because the record keeping was so bad.
More to come…