B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Auditor-General and Comptroller General will be investigating an accounting firmB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址渘ew informationB次元官网网址� 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 wonB次元官网网址檛 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 B次元官网网址渧iew to examining any potential conflict of interest relating to program administrators charging success fees to successful applicants who use their advisory services.B次元官网网址�
Merritt-based Edison Motors B次元官网网址� B.C.B次元官网网址檚 only company manufacturing electric semi-trucks B次元官网网址� had first raised concerns about MNPB次元官网网址檚 role in the process.
MNP said in a statement issued before OsborneB次元官网网址檚 formal announcement that it cannot comment on specific grant applications for privacy reasons.
B次元官网网址淲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,B次元官网网址� it reads. B次元官网网址淭hese allegations are false and misleading.B次元官网网址�
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The statement said MNP has policies and procedures to address potential conflicts of interest.
B次元官网网址淢NPB次元官网网址檚 policies and procedures prohibit team members from providing grant writing services for the programs we administer,B次元官网网址� it reads. B次元官网网址淥ur program administration work on behalf of CleanBC is no different.B次元官网网址�
The statement adds that MNP is committed to B次元官网网址渇ull transparency and accountability for every public programB次元官网网址� administrated by the company. B次元官网网址�(We) welcome a government-initiated program review.B次元官网网址�
Osborne said the investigations will focus on whether MNP followed the rules.
B次元官网网址淪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,B次元官网网址� Osborne said.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 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.B次元官网网址�
Chace Barber, founder and chief executive officer of Edison Motors, said he welcomes the investigation, but would like to see it go further. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not after MNP, IB次元官网网址檓 not trying to go after MNP,B次元官网网址� Barber said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 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.B次元官网网址�
