Liberal MPs adjourn debate over $34M green technology fund dispute

Liberal MPs adjourned a meeting of the House of Commons public accounts committee on Wednesday, halting a debate regarding the recovery of $34 million in taxpayer funds. The dispute centers on Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), an agency that Conservatives have criticized as a “green slush fund.”

Conservative MP Michael Cooper accused the government of shutting down efforts to recover funds awarded to five ineligible green technology projects. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly previously stated that Ottawa would not seek repayment, arguing that recovery efforts would likely be unsuccessful and that pursuing them was not in the public interest.

MP Kristina Tesser Derksen defended the government's position, noting that the department had responded to concerns raised by Auditor General Karen Hogan and that identified weaknesses had been addressed. A 2024 report from the Auditor General found that SDTC had awarded $59 million to 10 ineligible projects and identified 90 instances of potential conflicts of interest.