OTTAWA – The House of Commons on Wednesday reprimanded a private citizen for the first time in more than 100 years.
It’s just the latest example of ArriveCan’s fallout as MPs point fingers at the Liberal government’s failure to manage COVID-era app development.
GC Strategies partner Kristian Firth has been ordered to appear in the House tribunal after refusing to answer certain questions at a committee hearing.
That came a day after Firth said the RCMP executed a search warrant on his property.
An RCMP spokesperson said Wednesday that the search was “unrelated to the ArriveCan investigation” and that no further information would be provided.
Firth said the RCMP was searching for electronic items related to another investigation.
A hush fell over the House of Commons when he appeared shortly after question period alongside his lawyer.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre and several cabinet ministers walked out ahead of his public rebuke.
“On behalf of the House of Commons, I warn you,” Speaker Greg Fergus said directly to Firth, who stood and did not look away.
In addition, Firth was ordered to answer questions that MPs said he refused to answer during a House committee meeting last month.
“I would like to remind you that you must answer all questions asked of you,” Fergus warned.
“Anything you say in these proceedings is protected by parliamentary privilege and cannot be used against you in any other way.”
Firth insisted in the House that while his answers were at times “obtuse”, he was not evading MPs’ questions.
His doctor provided a note to the House clerk recommending that Firth not appear due to an acute mental health diagnosis, saying he is actively undergoing therapy and taking medication. The note was shared with all parties.
Liberal MPs opted not to take part in a second round of questioning, citing concerns about Firth’s mental health.
No private citizen has been ordered to appear in court since 1913, an extraordinary development that places people under the authority of the House.
In 2021, the former head of the Public Health Agency of Canada was reprimanded for failing to release documents related to the firing of two scientists from a Winnipeg laboratory.
A lawyer for Firth declined to comment Wednesday.
In an appearance before a House committee last month, Firth said he had had the full weight of the government on him for false allegations against his company.
Those accusations, he said, have led to threats against him and his family, including his children.
GC Strategies did not develop or manage the ArriveCan app, but was tasked by the federal government with assembling a team to complete some parts of the project, which had a total estimated cost of $60 million.
Canada’s auditor general found that three separate government departments lacked accurate financial records for ArriveCan and failed to provide the best value for taxpayers’ money.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2024.