Evidence of meeting #133 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 board.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Annette Verschuren
Mr. Chair, I believe the situation was that there were indications that I was requested to consider being an applicant. I'm sure the Privy Council Office would have looked at a number of applicants. I would expect—
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Ma'am, let's move to a different question.
In your opening statement, you said repeatedly that the Ethics Commissioner said that you acted in good faith. Are those your words or his?
I did look through his report. I read it before, and I trust you did too. It says “good faith” in there one time, but it's not in this report talking about your being found guilty of corruption. That “good faith” phrase isn't about you, so why would you make that up? Why would you assert that in your opening statement today? He didn't say you were acting in good faith.
Annette Verschuren
Mr. Chair, we just heard from the commissioner, and I accept his findings. I—
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Ma'am, if you accept his findings, you'll recognize that he didn't, in his findings, say that you acted in good faith.
How many Canadian tax dollars were given out in conflicts of interest by Liberal-appointed board members at Sustainable Development Technology Canada—how much money? Just the number would be helpful.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Yes. The Auditor General pegged the number at $330 million given out in conflicts of interest. Do you dispute that number?
Annette Verschuren
If the Auditor General stated that number, it's obvious that it is accurate.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
So you agree?
Ma'am, are you proud of your time at Justin Trudeau's green slush fund? It's a yes-or-no question.
Annette Verschuren
The investments that SDTC made in the clean-tech industry have had an enormous impact on Canada. I'm very proud of the work that SDTC has done, yes.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Are you proud of the $300 million given out in conflicts of interest? Are you proud of the 24 instances of your own conflicts of interest? Are you proud that you used your position to help enrich yourself and your friends?
Annette Verschuren
Again, I accept the commissioner's findings. I recognize that there were two things that I could have improved in terms of recusing versus abstaining.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
I have about 30 seconds left, and I have to say I'm not sure what's worse—that you didn't report the governance issues and, as chair of the board, demand changes, or that it seems as though you don't really think you did anything wrong.
I have one question to finish my time: When will you return the money you took from the green slush fund?
Annette Verschuren
Mr. Chair, I've been accountable, and people in public service in these positions need to be accountable. I have been involved with four different reports. I have made myself available. None of these experts has come to that conclusion.
Again, the other major issue is that those investments were made in projects in Canada that really have grown the economy.
Liberal
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mrs. Verschuren, I keep hearing the words about being a Liberal insider. You've donated extensively to the Conservative Party of Canada. In fact, you've consistently donated, since 2013, to the federal party. You also donated to two people in their last leadership campaign. Can you confirm that you donated to the Raitt leadership campaign back in 2017?
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Can you confirm that you donated $1,675, close to the maximum allowable amount, to the Charest campaign on March 24, 2022?
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
I see that this is the exact same amount that a certain Mr. Perkins, unless there are two of them, donated to the campaign. That's a story for another time, I suppose.
Mrs. Verschuren, is it true that you donated to the York—Simcoe Conservative association between 2013 and 2015?
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
It was the Simcoe—Grey county association in 2013-15. I believe that's Conservative.
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Conservatives would have us believe you're a Liberal insider. That must totally explain why Prime Minister Mulroney, rest his soul, asked that you serve on his national science and technology committee, and why finance minister Flaherty tapped you for his economic adviser and to serve on his economic council during the 2008 recession.
How do you respond to these baseless comments made by the Conservative colleagues?
Annette Verschuren
I've been privileged as a Canadian to work with many prime ministers. As a citizen, I will work with the prime minister who is in power. I've worked with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and I've worked with other prime ministers. I think it's really important for Canadians to be able to serve and give of themselves to help this country move forward.
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Mrs. Verschuren, would it be correct to say that compared with other small and medium-enterprise businesses, the clean-tech sector and small innovators rely more heavily on public sector funding to help de-risk these investments?
