No, it wasn't. I knew the governments were already strapped for cash for their own work. If I'd asked the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for the money, they would have told me to go around and get letters of endorsement from all of the oil companies. On the other hand, I knew of two foundations that were anxious to see the work done. So I did it with foundation money.
On March 30th, 2010. See this statement in context.