IRAP was not the decision-maker in this process. IRAP manages the program for Finance Canada, and the Minister of Finance selected a committee of business people—people independent of the government—who made the selection. IRAP provided a pre-screening and the longer list of pre-screened incubators and accelerators, and the committee made the final decision and recommendation to the Minister of Finance.
On May 5th, 2016. See this statement in context.