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
As we look at the process to restart funding, we will address issues of eligibility and conflict of interest for previously approved projects.
October 7th, 2024 / 12:25 p.m.
Conservative
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
We will look at both eligibility and conflict of interest for the previously approved projects as we look at the restart of program funding.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
You were very specific in using the word “recipient” before. Now I'm asking you whether you are also considering conflicts involving board members.
You have refused to answer yes or no on that very specific question, so I'll put it to you again. Is it yes or no?
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
As we look at different issues, different considerations come into play. Vis-à-vis recoveries—
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
On a point of order, Chair, we should let the witness answer, not badger her. Give her the time to be able to answer in full, please.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you, Ms. Yip.
I have another point of order, from Ms. Khalid.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
All right.
Mr. Cooper, you have the floor for three minutes.
Look, I'll just say this to all members on both sides. I appreciate that direct answers are expected. Mr. Cooper is trying to narrow the response, and he is entitled to do that.
Mr. Cooper, I turn the floor back to you, please, for three minutes.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
I'm awaiting an answer to a yes-or-no question.
She's wasting my time.
Yes or no?
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
These are complex and nuanced issues, and they need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis under the process that we've established.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
You can't give a yes-or-no answer as to whether that is specifically being considered. I'll take it as a no, which is astounding. What it means is that projects that got ahead of the queue because of corrupt board members will continue to reap the benefits of the corruption at SDTC that led to the freezing and caused a damning Auditor General's report.
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
I have a point of order. I recognize that it's the honourable member's time, but he's putting words into the witness's mouth that have not been said publicly.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Hold on. I didn't catch the putting words. I think Mr. Cooper is summarizing how he sees it.
Mr. Cooper, you have the floor for two minutes and 20 seconds.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
In essence, it's not a priority to clean up corruption. It's not a priority to clean up the conflicts. What is a priority is the status quo: to get money out the door as quickly as possible. It's really outrageous.
You said that part of your responsibility on the interim board is to oversee transparency with respect to transfer to the NRC. The SDTC every quarter published all funding decisions project by project. Will that transparency continue when SDTC projects are transferred to the NRC, yes or no?
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
I can't speak to that issue. We're in the process of discussion with the NRC.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Ms. Morgan, you said that your role is to oversee the transfer to the NRC. That is your primary focus as one of three board members. You said transparency is a priority. I cited an example where there actually was a level of transparency at SDTC, and I'm asking you if that will continue. If you can't answer that, are you at least taking steps to see that it will continue?
Board Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
We have a process in place whereby we're working through all of these issues with the NRC.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
I asked you a simple question, and you dodged once again, talking in generalities about process. Answer the question. I asked you very specifically about quarterly reports from SDTC.
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. I don't think we're in the business of embarrassing or harassing witnesses who come before this committee.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Look, Ms. Khalid, I appreciate that this is frustrating. These are good questions, and we're a parliamentary committee—
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
Respectfully, Chair, these are not questions; these are statements. They are not questions, Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
The witness can refute them.
Mr. Cooper is being very specific with respect to his questions, and he is entitled to pose them. I would hope we would get an answer, but when he doesn't get an answer, he is entitled to drill down further.
Mr. Cooper, you have the floor.