Industry committee  These companies invest in projects. These projects are all high-risk, innovative projects that—

Industry committee  These board members invest in the future of our country. We invest in the future of green technology—

Industry committee  These investments are made to further opportunities in the Canadian clean-tech industry.

Industry committee  The Canadian clean-tech industry is extraordinarily important for the future of our country. I want to remind the members that 12 of the top 100 global companies are Canadian companies. Ten of them were supported by SDTC, and we are—

Industry committee  Look, it was March 20. It was the third week of COVID. Our young companies were in trouble. They really were. A lot of them were pre-revenue. The board met, and management recommended that an envelope of funding be proposed to help out these companies. All the declarations of conflict had been made already for these companies.

Industry committee  That's correct, because the need was extraordinary. The borders were closed, etc. Most of these companies were pre-revenue. They really needed to continue to operate, otherwise we would have lost that amazing innovation towards commercialization opportunities that we're seeing.

Industry committee  Yes. Absolutely. I apologize—I really do—to the chair and to all the committee members. My computer froze. I was working with Francis, who is a tech with this standing committee, to try to get back on. It was 25 minutes, and I couldn't get my computer.... I tried with my iPad, and I think I got on a minute after the chair closed the committee.

Industry committee  Yes. Of course. What would happen was that memos would go out, declaring the projects that were going to be reviewed at the upcoming project review committee. The board members would then indicate whether there was a conflict and write in response to that memo if they were in conflict.

Industry committee  The material would never go to the board member who declared that conflict in the first place, so they wouldn't have that. That was a process that was very strongly adopted by SDTC. In the case when I declared a perceived conflict, I wouldn't have received that information. That would not have been included in my board package.

Industry committee  I'll just clarify the question. Is the question you're looking to ask me about whether there's anything more to say about the accusations against SDTC?

Industry committee  I have a very professional relationship with the CEO. When these accusations were made in February and one of the board members was called, we very quickly realized that we needed to set up a three-person committee that did not include me. It did not include the CEO. The board took three months to review and analyze the accusations that were given to our board member.

Industry committee  That is correct.

Industry committee  Yes, all three of them.

Industry committee  That's correct.

Industry committee  Yes, I did. I vote for and support individuals who I think can make a great contribution. I'm non-partisan. If you take a look at my record, I think I vote broadly.