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B.C. government orders investigation into carbon tax grant process

Investigation to focus on whether grants being awarded fairly after allegations arise.
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British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 auditor general Michael Pickup as well as Comptroller General Carl Fischer will be investigating MNP91裸聊视频檚 role in the administration of the two grant programs offered through CleanBC following allegations of a kick-back scheme. (Canadian Press file photo)

B.C.91裸聊视频檚 Auditor-General and Comptroller General will be investigating an accounting firm91裸聊视频檚 role in the administration of two programs funded through the carbon tax.

Energy Minister Josie Osborne ordered the investigation into MNP Monday (April 8) after receiving what she only described as 91裸聊视频渘ew information91裸聊视频 from an undisclosed source about the accounting firm and its role in administering the Commercial Vehicle Innovation Challenge and the Advanced Research and Commercialization grants.

Osborne said MNP won91裸聊视频檛 administer those grants for the duration of the investigation. An interim report from the Auditor-General is due within 90 days with the final becoming public no later than Sept. 1.

The decision marks a reversal from last week, when the government used its majority to twice reject calls from the opposition to ask the Auditor-General for an investigation.

BC United requested a probe into the CleanBC Go Electric Program (which includes the ARC and CVIC programs) with a 91裸聊视频渧iew to examining any potential conflict of interest relating to program administrators charging success fees to successful applicants who use their advisory services.91裸聊视频

Merritt-based Edison Motors 91裸聊视频 B.C.91裸聊视频檚 only company manufacturing electric semi-trucks 91裸聊视频 had first raised concerns about MNP91裸聊视频檚 role in the process.

MNP said in a statement issued before Osborne91裸聊视频檚 formal announcement that it cannot comment on specific grant applications for privacy reasons.

91裸聊视频淲e are aware of an allegation that one of our teams working in the province of B.C. in our grant management service line acted in the capacity as both the administrator and grant

application consultant on the CleanBC grant program,91裸聊视频 it reads. 91裸聊视频淭hese allegations are false and misleading.91裸聊视频

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The statement said MNP has policies and procedures to address potential conflicts of interest.

91裸聊视频淢NP91裸聊视频檚 policies and procedures prohibit team members from providing grant writing services for the programs we administer,91裸聊视频 it reads. 91裸聊视频淥ur program administration work on behalf of CleanBC is no different.91裸聊视频

The statement adds that MNP is committed to 91裸聊视频渇ull transparency and accountability for every public program91裸聊视频 administrated by the company. 91裸聊视频(We) welcome a government-initiated program review.91裸聊视频

Osborne said the investigations will focus on whether MNP followed the rules.

91裸聊视频淪o in the case of these two grant programs, not only is a company like MNP administering the grant programs on behalf of government not permitted to ask for or request any kind of consulting fee or lobbying fee, but any grant dollars that are awarded are not permitted to be used for any kind of fee like that,91裸聊视频 Osborne said.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 why the Auditor-General and the Comptroller General will undertake their review because we want to make sure this is fair. It needs to be fair for all of the applicants and British Columbians want to make sure there is confidence in these grant programs.91裸聊视频

Chace Barber, founder and chief executive officer of Edison Motors, said he welcomes the investigation, but would like to see it go further. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not after MNP, I91裸聊视频檓 not trying to go after MNP,91裸聊视频 Barber said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 just looking at the government programs and the way they are being run is not very good and that is what I am trying to highlight.91裸聊视频



Wolf Depner

About the Author: Wolf Depner

I joined the national team with Black Press Media in 2023 from the Peninsula News Review, where I had reported on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula since 2019.
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