Evidence of meeting #143 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was sdtc.
A video is available from Parliament.
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
We have established a clear process. We have engaged advice. We have engaged independent reviewers, and—
Conservative
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
—that process has begun.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Ms. Morgan, it's my time.
Instead of speaking in generalities, let's start using a refreshing approach, please, and answer a direct question.
The direct question is this: Are you getting legal advice as to what process should be followed to recover money, yes or no? If you say yes, which law firm is giving you that advice?
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
We have indicated to the committee that if we find evidence of fraud or wrongdoing, the board will take action.
Conservative
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
On a point of order, I would appreciate it if time could be given to Ms. Morgan to complete her answer.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I would be happy to give her time if she actually answered the question.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Mr. Brock, give me just one second.
Madame Sinclair-Desgagné.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
On the point of order, I find it very disappointing that this witness is not answering any of the questions she could answer with a yes or no. She prefers to repeat the same talking points, which she was probably fed by bureaucrats. I think it's appalling. We have questions, and it is important that the witness be as specific as possible in her answers, out of respect for the time and work of the parliamentarians here.
Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you very much.
Mr. Drouin, I think you have a point of order as well. Is that correct?
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Yes.
This is along the same lines.
I respect the witnesses who appear before the committee. At the same time, I realize that it can be frustrating not to get the answers we want to hear. We must, nevertheless, keep ourselves in check. We are parliamentarians, and we must be respectful to witnesses.
With all due respect to my fellow members, I sense the frustration on the other side. They're asking questions in the hope of getting specific answers that they aren't necessarily getting, and that isn't anyone's fault.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Ms. Morgan, you can see the position I'm in. There is some frustration when there are specific questions but the responses are general in nature.
Is this something you'd like to answer, or would you like to come back to us in response to a specific question from Mr. Brock?
Mr. Brock, do you want to ask another question? Make it a very specific, short question. I don't want any preamble.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Yes. There's no preamble.
Are you receiving legal advice about the process regarding recovery? If the answer is yes, which firm is giving you advice?
It's very general.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Is this something you can either answer or come back to us with an answer for?
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
Yes, Mr. Chair, I'd be pleased to answer that.
Of course, we are receiving legal advice with respect to all of our next steps, including recoveries. I would be pleased to get back to you with the name of the law firm. I just can't recall it at the moment.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you. We appreciate that, and we'll look for that answer.
Up next is Ms. Bradford. You have the floor for five minutes, please.
Liberal
Valerie Bradford Liberal Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Ms. Morgan, for being with us today.
In the interest of clearing up some obvious confusion here for anyone watching at home, I would just like to read something into the record.
This is what McCarthy wrote on its website on December 1, 2023, when it launched its review:
SDTC has agreed that, to facilitate the review, any employee or former employee can speak freely to McCarthy Tétrault without fear of reprisal and without being considered as violating any applicable settlement agreements or non-disclosure agreements.
In the public record on the ISED website, anyone can see McCarthy's fact-finding review. It states:
McCarthy prepared a consent form for current and former employees which permitted the disclosure, use and collection of personal information in a manner consistent with the Review and law. This consent form was not mandatory for participation.
McCarthy also prepared a waiver form to encourage participation by releasing participants from any specific confidentiality obligations owed to SDTC. This waiver form was not mandatory for participation.
I just want to get that on the record, because there's been a lot of back-and-forth and confusion on this.
Returning to your opening statement, you referred to the third party reviews that are currently in place for the last requirement and how they're overseen by the board. What does your oversight as a board entail with these organizations conducting the reviews?
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
That will entail looking at each of the projects and the results of the two independent reviews for each project, taking into account any additional information provided by SDTC staff that is based on or comes out of those reviews. The board will then assess, based on all of that information, the issues around eligibility.
Liberal
Valerie Bradford Liberal Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Okay.
I was also wondering what you are in charge of as a board member. Alongside Ms. Doyle and Mr. Boothe, are you all focused on leading different elements of the transition or mandate?
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
Mr. Chair, as a board we're all accountable for the mandate that the Minister of ISED gave us. As Ms. Doyle noted during her testimony, she is focused a bit more on the project restart. I'm focused more on the transitioning of programming and people to the NRC.
Liberal
Valerie Bradford Liberal Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Also in your opening statement, you stated that funds should be disbursed shortly. Can you define “shortly” for us, please?