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RCMP confirmed Pres The International and Sensitive Intelligence Unit conducted a search at an address west of Ottawa that Mr. It is revealed that Firth and his family live there. The police force clarified that this was not related to the investigation opened in the wake of the scandal VisitCAN. No charges have been filed at this time.

The international and sensitive investigative team fights international corruption, domestic corruption and political investigations, war crimes and torture, and cybercrime.

Mr. The news comes as Firth is invited to the House of Commons bar. He confirmed the RCMP searched computer equipment in connection with an investigation into Botler AI's billing fraud and erroneous applications.

Ritika Dutt and Amir Morve, directors of the Montreal firm, told a parliamentary committee in October that there was “systemic corruption” in the federal system, particularly within the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). They also described GC techniques, working with him on an unrelated conversational robot project VisitCAN, a “ghost company” and accused them of altering their resumes without their knowledge. This strategy would have allowed GC strategies to increase the value of the contract.

Condemnation from the President

After Question Time, Mr Firth entered Parliament dressed in a gray suit. He stood to receive a rebuke in both official languages ​​from its president, Greg Fergus.

“The House has the power and, indeed, the power to reassert its prerogatives when attempts at obstruction or interference undermine its deliberations and prevent its members from discharging their parliamentary duties,” Mr. Fergus.

“This is what the House has ordered the President, who is the guardian of the rights and privileges of the House, to do right today: rebuke you for your contempt when you refused to answer the questions put to the committee and for using presumption in your answers to other questions,” he added.

His testimony before the Government Working Group last month left MPs wanting more. He declined to name the officials who developed the criteria for one of the contracts to develop the application. VisitCAN Under the pretext of an investigation opened by the RCMP, his company received tenders without inviting them.

He finally revealed their names on Wednesday in response to Conservative MP Michael Barrett. He was instructed to answer all questions put to him.

Mr. Firth confirmed that he suffers from mental health issues, is in therapy and on medication, and that his doctor has advised him not to participate in activities that increase his stress.

Steven McKinnon, the leader of the government in the House, indicated that the information had been shared with all political parties earlier in the day, and that the Conservatives were the only ones who did not want a postponement.

“The Leader of the Opposition is showing us his personality,” he said, prompting a wave of protest on the Conservative benches. He stressed that this rare exercise should be done “respecting the dignity of Parliament” and not forcing anyone to do something contrary.

GC Strategies has been in the news for months for its role in the scandal VisitCAN. According to the Auditor General's report, the company received $19.1 million in applications development contracts. Mr Firth denied the figure in his last testimony, but he admitted his two-man firm pocketed 2.5 million thanks to these deals. He acted as an intermediary to find people with expertise in IT.

application VisitCAN Created during an epidemic emergency, it was used to check the vaccination status of travelers arriving in the country. It is still used at major airports across the country for customs and immigration declarations.

It is very rare for the House of Commons to call a citizen to testify at the bar. The last time the House was summoned was in 1913 when a man named RC Miller refused to answer questions from the Public Accounts Committee. He appeared there twice but did not provide the information sought. He was later found guilty of contempt and imprisoned until the end of parliamentary proceedings some four months later.