Industry Committee on Jan. 31st, 2024

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Sorry, their concerns with whom?

[Leah Lawrence]

With digital and data consultations that were ongoing at the time.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

I understand why you believe they wanted to replace the former chair. Why do you believe they were determined to replace the former chair with a chair that had been identified as being in conflict? Why was it so important to pick her?

[Leah Lawrence]

I don't know. In fact, at the time that I was informed that they were going to replace the chair, I was asked by former minister Bains to speak to two candidates. I did speak to two candidates. The other one declined to put their name forward.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Did that candidate have a conflict of interest?

[Leah Lawrence]

They did not, but they were concerned that they may invest in the sector in the future. Therefore, they felt they should not put their name forward.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

I don't have a lot of time, but it's really important to understand this.

There was a conflict that the board chair they put forward was in because she had an interest in companies that had received money from SDTC. Is that correct?

[Leah Lawrence]

Her company had a contract with SDTC at the time of her appointment.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Right. She had a conflict before taking the position and is now under investigation by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner for directing funds from SDTC and voting for it for a company that she had an interest in.

Are you aware that this is the case as well?

[Leah Lawrence]

Yes, I understand that those investigations are ongoing.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Do you know how often Annette Verschuren was in contact with the minister of ISED?

[Leah Lawrence]

With the most recent minister, as far as I know, she only met with him twice. It was once at an announcement and once at a summit.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Did she deal with the deputy minister?

[Leah Lawrence]

I believe they had ongoing dialogues, yes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Who was the deputy minister that she would have been communicating with?

[Leah Lawrence]

It was deputy minister Simon Kennedy.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

How often would she have dealt with Mr. Kennedy?

[Leah Lawrence]

I couldn't say.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Would it be more than 10 times?

[Leah Lawrence]

It would have been whenever an issue came up that would have pertained to SDTC, like contribution agreements, infringement of change in acts and those kinds of things.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Who acted as the liaison between SDTC and ISED?

[Leah Lawrence]

At that level, she contacted the deputy minister directly. At my level, I dealt almost exclusively with Andy Noseworthy.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Did Veena Bhullar or Amber Batool fill that role?

[Leah Lawrence]

Veena Bhullar was our government relations lead. At some points, Amber Batool would have had communications with the minister's office. It would have been at the policy chief level.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Thank you.