1/ Live Thread of this extraordinary event.#CdnPoli #CanPoli
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1/ Live Thread of this extraordinary event.
Live Video here: https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240417/-1/41369?Language=English&Stream=Video
#CdnPoli #CanPoli -
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@chris I might be translating some of that tonight!
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7/ We are onto the first "round" of questions. Questions are through the Chair/Speaker, like in normal debate.
Leader of the Government (Liberal): The first question is about his medical health. Firth is clearly nervous/uncomfortable. He says that his medical advice is that he shouldn't participate in a stressful situation.
Basically saying the Leader of Government shouldn't participate today due to physical and medical health reasons.
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11/ They move on to questions.
First is Michael Barrett: He asks Firth, “GC Strategies is a 2 person company…. has the gov asked Mr Firth to repay the government".
Firth: "No they have not”
B: Has the Gov asked GC Strategies to pay money back…
F: We have not.
B: …… copy paste contracts…..
F: “We have never copy and pasted to win any contract”
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12/
Barrett: “GC Strategies is two guys in a basement... Who offered a quote”
Firth starts to answer and then someone beside him whispers.
The Speaker asks if Firth needs a moment to consult and "stops the clock”.
After back and forth, and on a point of order from an NDP member on phrasing things in a parliamentary way…
Firth gives a name.
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13/ Conservative Kelly Block takes time.
She asks: “Has Mr Firth ever engaged in bait-and-switch in any of his contracts with government.Firth: essentially says no.
Block: How many times have public servants provided him with sub contractors.
Firth: I don't know. It is common.
Block: I will take that to mean he has been provided “many times”.
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14/ The Conservative Party's Question Time is now up... onto the Bloc Quebecois for their turn.
BQ MP Julie Vignola asks: “I would like to know what skills and training were required in order to become a talent required.”
Firth: “There's building a network... through years of experience... working with resources... what per diems are. A lot of things to understand if they are perfect for a role. ……
I believe we beat out other firms (Microsoft, and others)
#CdnPoli #CanPoli -
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17/ Questions from the NDP now
Taylor Bachrach: He talks about inconsistency at committee on answers about whether he did or did not meet with gov officials outside”
Bachrach: ”Why did he choose to mislead the committee?”
Firth: "Some of the answers… may have been obtuse”
Bachrach: "Why did you choose to mislead”
Firth: “At that time I didn't know.” ... “At that time I thought I did answer it correctly.”
Bachrach “I have difficulty believing that to be the truth.”
#CdnPoli #CanPoli -
18/
We are getting to the meat of it!
Bachrach: Both the AG and Proc Ombudsman found that the contract was so restrictive as to only be for GC Strategies. Is that process not profoundly unfair?
Firth: He takes issue with the AG/Omb saying that only GC Strategies could win the contract.
Bachrach: Did you say the payments… “sucks for Canada”>
Firth: "I cannot recall saying that”
B: Is there anything he would do differently in Committee appearances?
F: More concise, etc…
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19/ Bachrach: Will [Firth} give that (millions) money back?
Firth: We were paid to recruit... we completed contract on time and on budget.
If you watch any of it... Bachrach's questions were by far the most incisive.
That is the end of the first round of questions. The Speaker asks if Firth would like a break, he says yes. And the House is suspended for an unknown amount of time. I'll continue when it resumes.
Firth did not appear to be sick.