What is GC Strategies? A closer look at the company linked to the ArriveCan controversy

GC Strategies, the largest contractor to work on the ArriveCan app project, is facing heightened scrutiny after the auditor general cited excessive reliance on contractors as a major factor contributing to the project's ballooning costs.

After releasing her report on the controversial project, Auditor General Karen Hogan told MPs on the House public accounts committee that the government «paid too much» for the app.

Hogan estimates the project cost at roughly $59.5 million. She also noted in her report that the total cost is «impossible to determine» due to poor financial record-keeping.

Here's what we know about the company embroiled in the ArriveCan controversy.

What is GC Strategies and what does it do?

The company is a two-person IT staffing firm that bills itself as being able to help companies navigate the federal government's procurement process.

Founded in 2015, the firm is headed by two partners, Kristian Firth and Darren Anthony.

As a staffing firm, GC Strategies acts as a go-between for the government and third-party tech companies. Firth described himself and his partner as «IT recruiters» in an appearance before the House of Commons government operation committee in October 2022.

«We have built a very strong network of best-in-class talent, which allows us to help our clients find the team they want,» he said.

For ArriveCan, GC Strategies took an initial contract from the government and subcontracted the development of the app to IT firms.

«To be clear, we did not build ArriveCan. We were approached to provide a team for consideration to fulfil certain ArriveCan requirements. We are, however, very proud of the team we gave the government of Canada, whom they managed and gave direction to throughout the project,» Firth