Yes.
Evidence of meeting #105 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #105 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
It states, “[N]o member shall profit or gain any income or acquire any property from the Foundation or its activities.” As a public officer holder during your time, you were subject to the Conflict of Interest Act for public office holders.
Have you read that act?
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
It says that no public office holders shall exercise their duty to further their private interests or those of their family and friends.
When you and fellow directors Andrée-Lise Méthot, Stephen Kukucha and Guy Ouimet voted $3.7 million of COVID relief for companies that you had a financial interest in, was that not furthering your private interests?
11:20 a.m.
O.C., As an Individual
In the case of the NRStor project, this was a project. The way these things work is that you set up a limited partnership, so this limited partnership—
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Look, with respect, I have limited time. It's easier if you actually answer my question. I don't need an explanation of the corporate structure of NRStor. It was a simple question. When you voted the money for NRStor and Hydrostor, which you had a financial interest in—
11:20 a.m.
O.C., As an Individual
I did not have a financial interest in Hydrostor.
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
—with other directors, and their interests in their companies, was that not furthering your personal interests? That's all I want an answer to, yes or no?
11:20 a.m.
O.C., As an Individual
It certainly was not advancing my personal interest, no.
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
When you own shares in a company—and you're the major shareholder and CEO of NRStor—when it receives money from the government, does that not benefit your ownership?
11:20 a.m.
O.C., As an Individual
In the case of the money, the $217,000 that came to NRStor went into a limited partnership. That money was put into the assets of the Goderich energy storage facility.
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
You are the major shareholder.
When the board voted to give $10.7 million in grants to companies that your fellow director Stephen Kukucha had a financial interest in, was that not personal gain for him? It's $10.7 million to companies that he is an investor in.
11:20 a.m.
O.C., As an Individual
These companies invest in projects. These projects are all high-risk, innovative projects that—
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
My question is.... He has a financial interest in those companies and you voted for $10.7 million for them.
I'll go on to the next one.
When you voted $3.8 million in grants for your fellow director Guy Ouimet, was that not furthering his personal interests? He had a financial interest in a company that you gave grants to.
11:20 a.m.
O.C., As an Individual
These board members invest in the future of our country. We invest in the future of green technology—
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
It's yes or no.
When you voted $42.5 million in grants to seven companies that your fellow director Andrée-Lise Méthot has an interest in, was that not furthering her personal interest?
11:20 a.m.
O.C., As an Individual
These investments are made to further opportunities in the Canadian clean-tech industry.
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Mr. Perkins, please give the witness a little room for an answer. It would be appreciated.
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
If she would start with yes or no, that would make it helpful.
11:20 a.m.
O.C., As an Individual
The Canadian clean-tech industry is extraordinarily important for the future of our country. I want to remind the members that 12 of the top 100 global companies are Canadian companies. Ten of them were supported by SDTC, and we are—