Evidence of meeting #91 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was project.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:05 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management Sector, Department of Industry
We had a Teams meeting where we were debriefed verbally by the lawyers, who conducted the review at Osler.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Thank you, Mr. Green, and Mr. McConnachie.
Ms. Verschuren, we've completed our first round here, and I know there was something you wanted to add. I'm going to give you the opportunity in a minute or less to add what you wanted to add to Mr. Green.
5:10 p.m.
Chair, Board of Directors, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
On the declaration of the project that I worked on, that NRStor represented—it was 18 months before—I proactively disclosed my role as CEO of NRStor to the government during the vetting, to the minister, to the department and to SDTC.
I also went to the Ethics Commissioner, because I wanted to be clear that this was something that would be comfortable for me to do. I spent two hours with the Ethics Commissioner.
I think that's really.... I want to be 100% clear, Mr. Chair.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
I know you wanted to say something, so I wanted to give you that opportunity.
Thank you.
We're going to start with our second round now. We're going to Mr. Cooper for five minutes.
Mr. Cooper, go ahead.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Verschuren, Ms. Urie indicated that when the whistle-blower submission was made in January, it was immediately referred to the governance committee of the board.
Do you serve on the governance committee?
5:10 p.m.
Chair, Board of Directors, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
I'll tell you, I got a call, I think, on February 3—
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
I'm asking a very simple question.
Are you a member of the governance committee?
5:10 p.m.
Chair, Board of Directors, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
I'm a member of the governance committee, but I certainly was not involved in any discussion on this issue with the governance committee.
5:10 p.m.
Chair, Board of Directors, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
Absolutely. I was asked not to attend.
The special committee was struck—
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Ms. Lawrence, were you involved in any discussions with the governance committee with respect to the whistle-blower complaint?
5:10 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
I was not.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Ms. Verschuren, through you, Mr. Chair, you indicated that there was one allotment of funding from SDTC to an interest you had. You indicated that you went through the Ethics Commissioner and you alerted the minister, and so on.
Aren't there are follow-up reviews of investments?
5:10 p.m.
Chair, Board of Directors, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
There are.
I think Ms. Urie can explain how it works.
5:10 p.m.
Vice-President, Finance, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
Sure.
Projects undergo ongoing monitoring throughout the term of the project. Often, projects that are funded by our program last anywhere from three to five years, and the projects are monitored on a milestone basis. We have regular check-ins with the companies and there is required reporting on a regular basis as they work through their—
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Wouldn't those follow-up reviews would be undertaken by the board?
5:10 p.m.
Vice-President, Finance, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
As the project goes through the regular monitoring process, no, the board does not undertake those reviews. Those reviews are undertaken by SDTC staff.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Ms. Verschuren, you had no involvement whatsoever in the follow-up reviews.
5:10 p.m.
Chair, Board of Directors, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
I did not.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Thank you for that.
You are the CEO of NRStar. Is that correct?
5:10 p.m.
Chair, Board of Directors, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
It's NRStor.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
It's NRStor. I apologize.
You indicated that NRStor has not received funding from SDTC since you were appointed chair. Is that correct?
5:10 p.m.
Chair, Board of Directors, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
I think I.... Are you referring to the application?
