The five-month investigation, focused on allegations former employees had made against SDTC chief executive Leah Lawrence and members of the agency’s board, including its chair, Annette Verschuren
A lengthy investigation into the operations of Canada’s main federal funding agency for early-stage green technology companies has uncovered evidence of conflicts of interest and lax governance involving the organization’s chief executive and board members, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
During the five-month investigation, the firm’s forensic accountants reviewed allegations former employees had made against SDTC chief executive Leah Lawrence and members of the agency’s board, including its chair, Annette Verschuren, according to one source briefed on the findings.
The employees had accused the agency’s leadership of breaching conflict of interest rules and using SDTC funds to finance ineligible projects, and the investigators have found that a number of those allegations have some merit, the source said.
The impending conclusion of the investigation process comes at a key time for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, which is struggling to advance its climate agenda and convince Canadians that public money is being well spent.
SDTC has previously defended its workplace culture and management, saying it aims to foster “an open and supportive work environment.” But as part of the current investigation process, the ministry is preparing a plan for the board to deal with any deficient human resources practices, the first source said.
Eventually, the board rejected the $5-million proposal for the Nova Scotia-based bio-technology and bio-manufacturing accelerator, but senior staff offered SDTC resources to help the centre seek grants from other government programs.
The original article contains 1,183 words, the summary contains 236 words. Saved 80%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
A lengthy investigation into the operations of Canada’s main federal funding agency for early-stage green technology companies has uncovered evidence of conflicts of interest and lax governance involving the organization’s chief executive and board members, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
During the five-month investigation, the firm’s forensic accountants reviewed allegations former employees had made against SDTC chief executive Leah Lawrence and members of the agency’s board, including its chair, Annette Verschuren, according to one source briefed on the findings.
The employees had accused the agency’s leadership of breaching conflict of interest rules and using SDTC funds to finance ineligible projects, and the investigators have found that a number of those allegations have some merit, the source said.
The impending conclusion of the investigation process comes at a key time for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, which is struggling to advance its climate agenda and convince Canadians that public money is being well spent.
SDTC has previously defended its workplace culture and management, saying it aims to foster “an open and supportive work environment.” But as part of the current investigation process, the ministry is preparing a plan for the board to deal with any deficient human resources practices, the first source said.
Eventually, the board rejected the $5-million proposal for the Nova Scotia-based bio-technology and bio-manufacturing accelerator, but senior staff offered SDTC resources to help the centre seek grants from other government programs.
The original article contains 1,183 words, the summary contains 236 words. Saved 80%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!