Controversial Contractor GC Strategies Entangled in Multiple CBSA Projects and Investigations

GC Strategies, the company at the center of controversy surrounding the ArriveCan app, has been revealed to have also been contracted for three additional projects by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) between 2020 and 2022. These projects, which include the development of apps to track and report cargo data, assess risks from travelers and vehicles, and manage arrivals subject to the Immigration Act, have a combined total value exceeding $8.3 million. This information comes on the heels of Auditor General Karen Hogan's report, which uncovered concerns about the procurement process that led to GC Strategies being awarded the ArriveCan project. The report found a lack of documentation on why the company was selected and raised doubts about the sole-source contract award, despite several issues. It was also revealed that GC Strategies and its predecessor have been awarded a total of 118 contracts amounting to $107 million since 2011. The scrutiny surrounding GC Strategies has intensified further as Public Services and Procurement Canada suspended the company's security status, effectively barring them from bidding on new contracts with security requirements. Additionally, heads of GC Strategies, Kristian Firth, and Darren Anthony are scheduled to testify before the government operations committee to address the allegations and findings brought forth by the Auditor General. In a related development, the CBSA has initiated its own internal investigation into ArriveCan, unearthing patterns of collaboration between certain officials and GC Strategies aimed at circumventing procurement processes. This investigation has led to the suspension of two public servants, Antonio Utano and Cameron MacDonald, who allege that they are being made scapegoats in the matter. Canada's Public Sector Integrity Commissioner has launched a separate investigation into the management of the ArriveCan project and the suspensions of Utano and MacDonald. The suspended public servants are reportedly seeking to have the preliminary findings of the CBSA's investigation sealed, suggesting a deepening rift over the handling of the situation. The fallout from these developments has cast a shadow over the operations of both GC Strategies and the CBSA, with questions lingering about the transparency of procurement processes and the integrity of public service. As the investigations continue to unfold, stakeholders and the public await clarity on the issues at hand and accountability for any lapses that may have occurred.