In a shocking revelation at a House of Commons committee, a whistleblower accused the Canadian federal government of a "egregious cover-up" regarding allegations of mismanagement and misconduct at Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the country's main funding agency for green technology.
The former employee, who worked at SDTC from 2020 to 2022, spoke out about the gross mismanagement of taxpayer money and the misconduct by the senior management team. He also alleged that $150 million of taxpayer money was granted improperly, including to companies connected to SDTC's own board members. Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne defended the integrity of the accounting firm hired to investigate the allegations and ordered another investigation into workplace misconduct.
The whistleblower's testimony adds to the ongoing controversy surrounding SDTC, which has invested over $1.5 billion in clean technology companies since 2001. The president of the board of directors, Annette Verschuren, recently resigned after admitting to approving subsidies to a company she runs.
The president and CEO of SDTC, Leah Lawrence, also resigned, citing a "sustained and malicious campaign to undermine" her leadership. With the Conservative party already expressing intentions to shut down the fund if they form government, the future of SDTC remains uncertain. Industry Minister Champagne's decision to launch another investigation into workplace misconduct further highlights the need for accountability and transparency within the agency.