Public Accounts Committee on Nov. 25th, 2024

[Zoë Kolbuc]

When you're at these committees, there are many questions coming at you. You're trying to remember quite an expanded period of time. Based on that email you shared, the offer would have been made, but on whether or not the offer was accepted, it's my recollection that it was not accepted for SDTC to provide support to that centre.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

On what basis do you draw that recollection? Was there a letter? What communications were there with the Verschuren Centre, and with whom? What do you have to substantiate that? It's completely inconsistent with what we've heard.

[Zoë Kolbuc]

Yes, I can look and see what I can do to further substantiate that and follow up with the committee with that information.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

It also contradicts the testimony of the whistle-blower, who stated that unprecedented efforts were made to help secure funding for the Verschuren Centre. Are you stating to this committee that the whistle-blower misled or flat out lied to this committee? Is that your position?

[Zoë Kolbuc]

My goal at this committee is to ensure that I provide fulsome responses to the questions I'm being asked, based on my recollection of what happened at the time, because I know this matter is of utmost interest to this committee. I want to ensure that I fulfill my duty and role in responding to all of the questions that you are putting forward with the most fulsome answers that I can.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Thank you for that.

I want to go back to a question that Mr. Perkins posed to you. How often did SDTC staff assist board members, companies or projects in which board members had interests in to secure funding from other government departments and agencies, as Mr. Rahme offered to do on behalf of the Verschuren Centre?

How often did that happen?

[Zoë Kolbuc]

I was never contacted by any board member about a project that was being considered for funding.

What I did provide in my response to your colleague was that my employees and the staff at SDTC did work within that whole-of-government approach to provide support for clean technology companies. We would make referrals to other funding agencies, other programs and provincial partners where we thought—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

I'm sorry to interrupt. Those referrals happened in certain instances where board members had conflicts. They were board members' companies. They had interests in those companies. SDTC staff, you're confirming, did assist projects where there were those types of conflicts. Is that correct?

[Zoë Kolbuc]

I'm based in Calgary, Alberta, so oftentimes there might be an applicant who was looking for funding, and the project they had could have been a better fit for a program under Natural Resources Canada, so we would make a referral to them—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

I understand in general, but I'm asking just a very specific question. I would like an answer, yes or no, with the greatest respect—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Mr. Cooper, that is your time. We will come back to you, I am sure.

Ms. Khalid, you are next, please. For five minutes, you have the floor.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Kolbuc, for appearing here today.

I'll start by asking this: Do you currently make any political donations to any political party?

[Zoë Kolbuc]

No, I have not made any political donations.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Are you a member of any political party?

[Zoë Kolbuc]

I'm not currently a member of any political party.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Have you been in the past?

[Zoë Kolbuc]

I was a member of a political party in the past. As was mentioned in this committee, I used to work as a political staffer under former premier Ralph Klein, and was active in provincial politics for a number of years early in my career.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Which political party was that?

[Zoë Kolbuc]

At the time, it was the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, but I have been involved in federal Conservative politics as well.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

In what capacity have you been involved in federal Conservative politics?

[Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

I have a point of order, and I've paused the clock.

The floor is yours, Ms. Sinclair‑Desgagné.

[Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

I have doubts about the relevance of my colleague's questions. I understand that things are very partisan here on the committee, but it is actually supposed to be non-partisan. I think there is enough material about Sustainable Development Technology Canada, particularly concerning Ms. Kolbuc, that we could get back to more relevant questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

As you know, I allow committee members exceptional latitude here. Ms. Khalid may therefore continue.

Ms. Khalid, you have the floor. You have four minutes remaining.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Thank you.

Ms. Kolbuc, I'd love an answer to that question.