Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to recognize that I'm speaking to you today on the traditional lands of the Anishinabe Algonquin nation.
I joined the board of Sustainable Development Technology Canada on June 4, 2024, alongside fellow board members Paul Boothe and Cassie Doyle. Together, we bring a long track record of public service experience to our one-year appointments to the board.
When we were appointed, we were given a three-part mandate by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry: to implement the recommendations of the Auditor General; to restart funding for Canadian clean technology companies, both those previously approved for funding and new applicants; and to transition the programming and staff of Sustainable Development Technology Canada, or SDTC, to the National Research Council, or NRC.
Our work as a board has been informed by extensive and comprehensive reviews completed over the past year, including the Auditor General's report, the McCarthy Tétrault report, and the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner's reports.
From the outset, the board has been in close contact with the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. We have reviewed the contribution agreement and the organization's implementing legislation. Our focus since day one has been on ensuring that SDTC is governed and operated with the highest level of oversight.
Our focus since day one has been on ensuring that SDTC is governed and operated with the highest level of oversight.
Specifically, we have worked to ensure that SDTC maintains the highest standards in the management of public funds, ensures fairness for the clean-tech companies that rely on SDTC support to develop sustainable technologies in Canada, and successfully transitions the deep expertise that has been developed at SDTC since its founding in 2001 to the National Research Council.
Since our appointment in June, we've been working on all three components of our mandate. First, we were tasked with implementing the Auditor General's recommendations. Out of 11 recommendations, 10 have been fully implemented. This includes enhanced documentation of the approval process, increased reporting to ISED and enhanced management and disclosure of conflicts of interest. The final recommendation is currently being addressed through an independent process overseen by the board. Further to this, SDTC has fully complied with Parliament's order for the production of papers, providing over 10,000 documents.
Second, we were mandated to restart funding for Canadian clean-tech companies. To this end, we have initiated a third party review of previously approved projects to ensure compliance with the eligibility requirements. This work is still ongoing, and no funds have been disbursed in the interim. We expect that funding could be disbursed shortly to companies where no eligibility issues were identified by the Auditor General. In addition, we are prioritizing cases where payment is due to companies that have fulfilled all of the requirements under their agreements, and where funding has been paused.
Finally, we were tasked with transitioning SDTC programming and staff to the National Research Council. As Minister Champagne stated in his June 4 announcement, the employees' dedication and hard work will ensure the continued success of our clean-tech start-ups in Canada. This process is well under way, with working groups from both SDTC and the NRC actively identifying areas of alignment in programming and personnel to ensure a smooth transition.
Allow me to conclude with a personal reflection. Throughout my time in the federal public service, I saw the potential for innovative Canadian companies to drive economic growth, productivity, and job creation for Canadians. I'm hopeful that the transfer of programming of SDTC to the NRC will enable the NRC to continue to support innovative Canadian companies. Our board will continue to focus on enhancing accountability, transparency and integrity as we move forward with this mandate.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I look forward to answering your questions.