GC Strategies Inc.'s $250 Million Government Windfall As the curtain rises on a drama that's gripping the nation, the ArriveCan controversy throws us into the complex labyrinth of governmental deals and financial oversight. Enter GC Strategies Inc., the now-notorious firm whose dealings have left the Canadian tax payers empty and with nothing to show with the millions in spending. The plot thickens with the astounding revelation of a $59.5 million investment into the CBSA's ArriveCan application, only to find the trail of accountability grows cold in the shadow of deficient financial tracking. The plot twist in this tale comes later on when we show you how GC Strategies, a duo-led enterprise based out of a basement, seemingly bypassed the fair bid processes, and secretly managed to secure a windfall of over $250 million in government contracts since their creation.
The Founders of GC Strategies at the heart of the ArriveCan App Ghost Contract Scandal. Meet the ArriveCan GC Strategies Founders. Darren Anthony, Kristian Firth, Originally conceived to monitor cross-border movements during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ArriveCan app's financial narrative took a dramatic turn, culminating in expenditures that defy initial fiscal forecasts. At the epicenter of this fiscal whirlwind stands GC Strategies Inc., a small company of 2 small IT contractors whose financial gain from the project was estimated to be over $20 million for doing no work but outsourcing the app's IT development. This article breaks down some of the recent evidence that has come to light.
Auditor General's Report on ArriveCan Corruption:
An independent report prepared by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada on ArriveCAN Report #1 (View Report)
12 Quick Points from the Auditor General's Arrivescan Scandal. Weak Financial Controls: The scandal was exacerbated by weak financial records and controls, making it virtually impossible to track the precise expenditure on the ArriveCan project and the true cost to tax payers.Security Clearance Lapses and Data Risks: The Auditor General unearthed that GC Strategies hired contractors without the necessary security clearances, despite the ArriveCan application handling sensitive personal information of Canadian citizens. This breach begs urgent questions: Who truly has access to the application's servers, and where exactly is user data being stored? The potential risk of personal data being compromised looms large, demanding immediate investigation into data security and privacy protocols.Estimated Cost Overrun: The ArriveCan project, tied to GC Strategies Inc., ballooned to an estimated cost of approximately $59.5 million, shedding light on potential inefficiencies and large overcharges.Absence of Formal Proposal: Investigations reveal that GC Strategies Inc. was awarded contracts without any formal proposal, raising serious questions about the procurement process and criteria for selection.Weak Financial Controls: The situation was exacerbated by weak financial records and controls, making it virtually impossible to track the precise expenditure on the ArriveCan project.No Testing Done Before Initial Release: The CBSA's release of 177 versions of ArriveCAN, with scant testing documentation, resulted in significant errors, including a misguidance that led approximately 10,000 travelers to quarantine unnecessarily. GC Strategies Inc. Role: GC Strategies Inc. is at the center of the ArriveCan controversy, implicated in a scandal involving significant financial mismanagement and lack of transparency with government contracts.Absence of Formal Proposal: Investigations reveal that GC Strategies Inc. was awarded contracts without any formal proposal, raising serious questions about the procurement process and criteria for selection. Weak Financial Controls: The situation was exacerbated by weak financial records and controls, making it virtually impossible to track the precise expenditure on the ArriveCan project.Taxpayer Impact: The estimated loss to Canadian taxpayers due to the mishandling of the ArriveCan project and associated contracts with GC Strategies Inc. is around $20 million, highlighting a significant waste of public funds.Public Health Agency of Canada’s Initial Ownership: The Public Health Agency of Canada initially owned the ArriveCan project until April 2022, indicating a shift in responsibility and oversight that may have contributed to the project's fiscal issues.Accountability Questions: The controversy brings to the forefront the issue of accountability in government spending and contract awards, particularly regarding how contracts are awarded and monitored. Lack of Transparency: Who Had Access to ArriveCan's Sensitive Data on Canadian Citizens? As we peel back the layers of the ArriveCan debacle, a troubling pattern of opacity comes to light. The government's own audit delivers a scathing review, exposing a series of missteps by the Canada Border Services Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada. Their collective failure in upholding sound management practices during the ArriveCan application's life cycle has done more than just fumble funds; it's shaken the bedrock of public confidence.
Canada Border Services Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada repeatedly failed to follow good management practices in the contracting, development, and implementation of the ArriveCAN application . This lack of transparency and accountability may have eroded public trust in the government's handling of public funds and resources." - Auditor General Report. Canadian Government Paid for Hundreds of Thousands of Fake ArriveCan Reviews A visual showcasing how ArriveCAN is beating some of the top global companies with AppStore Reviews.. Smells Fishy! The staggering number of reviews for the ArriveCan app throws us a curveball. Surpassing entertainment and shopping behemoths like Netflix and Amazon with over 760,000 reviews, one can't help but question the authenticity of this app's online popularity. The notion that a government-created application might be bolstered by purchased reviews is more than just unsettling—it suggests a breach of trust with the Canadian public. Governments should not secretly promote their products illegally. If these reviews are indeed a product of manipulation, using taxpayer dollars no less, it raises ethical questions that demand transparency. Citizens deserve honesty in their digital engagements, especially from those in the highest offices, who should guide by example, not by fabricated narratives.
Over 1700+ Deleted Emails - Is This Typical Business Practice?
The GC Strategies' Name Game - Decoding Their Multiple Identities in Government Contracts GCStategies Inc., GC Strategies Inc., GC Strategies, and GCSTRATEGIES INCORPORATED. When we look at how the government gives out money for big projects, things should be clear and simple. But with GC Strategies, a tiny company with just two people working from a little cabin, things are pretty confusing. They got a huge amount of money from the government — over $250 million split between hundreds of contracts! What's really strange is that the government has their name purposely spelled in different ways on the public contracts. It's like calling the same person by different nicknames to make it harder to track. This makes us wonder, why are they using different names for the single entity? I believe this is to make it hard for people to see how much money they're really getting. It looks like someone might have been trying to make it hard to track all that money.
See for yourself how different results come up in the contract database with different variations of spelling applied; https://search.open.canada.ca/contracts/?sort=contract_date+desc&page=1&search_text=GC+STRATEGIES
https://search.open.canada.ca/contracts/?sort=contract_date+desc&page=1&search_text=GCSTRATEGIES
https://search.open.canada.ca/contracts/?sort=contract_value+desc&page=1&search_text=GCSTRATEGIES+Incorporated
Calling Out The Corruption and Fighting For Government Reform This scandal underscores the critical need for reform in governmental procurement processes and government transparency on spending. It's not just about the financial implications but the erosion of public trust in how their money is spent. As we continue uncovering the corruption, we must stay focused not only be on accountability for the past but also on systemic changes to ensure such discrepancies are not repeated. The spotlight on GC Strategies and the Liberal Governments ArriveCan disaster presents an opportunity for a much-needed overhaul of procurement practices, emphasizing transparency, competitiveness, and accountability. Only through the citizens speaking up and fighting for reforms can the trust in public institutions be restored, ensuring that taxpayer money is used efficiently, effectively, and, most importantly, be transparent to allow for every Canadian Citizen to see how it is spent.
Thank you for taking the time to delve into our research. If this has sparked your interest or concern, we encourage you to help amplify the message. Share this article on social media to aid in disseminating our findings far and wide. Engage with us and share your thoughts on Twitter by tagging @FCNews_Reports or @UtilityTheory. Your voice matters in this conversation, and together, we can bring greater awareness to these pressing issues.
