GC Strategies partner pleads ignorance while being questioned by MPs looking into ArriveCan

One of the partners at GC Strategies said Thursday he didn't know the answers to a number of questions posed by MPs on a parliamentary committee studying the ArriveCan controversy.

GC Strategies was one of the contractors that worked on the pandemic-era project, which the auditor general estimates cost just under $60 million.

Darren Anthony, a partner at GC Strategies, testified before the House government operations committee on Thursday. His partner, Kristian Firth, appeared separately on Wednesday.

Anthony told the committee in his opening statement that he had little to do with ArriveCan beyond filing the security clearances for the company's subcontractors.

«I will answer all questions for which I have the knowledge to answer as best I can,» he said.

«Firth handled all projects related to Covid and pandemic response, so I have very little to offer as insight into this committee's current work.»

After his opening statement, Anthony said he didn't have answers to several questions asked by MPs about GC Strategies, including ones that didn't specifically touch on the ArriveCan app.

NDP MP Taylor Bachrach asked Anthony what his role in the company is in relation to Firth. Anthony replied that he was a vice president of the company and that while he is only responsible for the contracts he signs, he and Firth are «50-50 owners.»

«What is your fiduciary responsibility as an owner of the company? Is it only for your contracts or is it for the corporate entity?» Bachrach asked.

«I don't know the answer to that,» Anthony replied. He stuck with his answer when Bachrach asked him again.

«I find that astounding,» Bachrach said.

Conservative MP Michael Barrett asked Anthony who had provided the testimonials posted on GC Strategies'