The Canadian governments Sustainable Development Technology Fund, often referred to as a “Trudeau’s green slush fund,” is under fire yet again today.
Member of Parliament Michael Barrett this morning on Twitter has revealed that yet another member of the board of directors, Guy Ouimet, is under investigation following allegations of a conflict of interest. The investigation follows the resignation of Leah Lawrence, President and CEO of the agency, whom stepped down after it was revealed that SDTC chair Annette Verschuren had received funding from the agency for her own organization. Verschuren has also stepped down from her role with the organization.
The latest scandal, which relates to Guy Ouimet, alleges that Ouimet had an interest in Lithion Recycling, a recipient of SDTC funding. While Ouimet was not on the board when the initial funding was provided in August 2018, having joined the board in November of that year, he would have participated in the decision to provide COVID emergency funding relief in two votes that occurred in 2020 and 2021.
The supplementary funding is estimated to have amounted to $400,000.
A secondary project related to Lithion, conducted by eNim Inc, is also reported to have received funding in November 2022.
Following the discovery, which was presented by Barrett to interim Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein, an investigation has been opened.
Information for this story was found via Twitter and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
