A former assistant deputy industry minister testified Wednesday that he failed to report conflicts of interest at a federal agency that awarded $856 million in subsidies, claiming he was “not a lawyer.” Blacklock's Reporter said Andrew Noseworthy, who attended board meetings at Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) before its disbandment, faced pointed questions from MPs on the Commons public accounts committee.“I truly saw my role as a liaison,” said Noseworthy, who earned $200,000 annually before retiring. He claimed board meetings appeared routine, and he did not independently assess conflicts of interest among directors.The Auditor General’s report revealed 186 instances of inside dealing at SDTC, leading to the resignations of its CEO, chair, and the entire board. Conservative MP Rick Perkins (South Shore-St. Margarets, N.S.) confronted Noseworthy over his inaction despite his familiarity with the Sustainable Development Technology Canada Act, which explicitly bans directors from profiting from the agency.“Did you ever read the Act?” asked Perkins.“Yes, of course,” replied Noseworthy.“Then you would have been familiar with the clause on page nine,” said Perkins, quoting: “‘No director shall profit or gain any income or acquire any property from the foundation or its activities.’”Despite this, Noseworthy maintained he lacked the expertise to identify violations. “I had no way of independently assessing conflicts of interest by the board,” he said.“You don’t have to be a lawyer,” Perkins retorted. “Even a bureaucrat could figure out that means you cannot vote for your own company to receive money from the board you’re on.”Bloc Québécois MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné (Terrebonne, Que.) challenged Noseworthy’s understanding of his duties. “You were there at the time and yet you said nothing. Were you just a visitor? You were paid. It was part of your job to be at those meetings.”Noseworthy replied, “I did not see my role here as having any type of policing function over the activities of the organization or the board’s decision making.”Conservative MP Kelly McCauley (Edmonton West) contrasted Noseworthy’s silence with whistleblowers who exposed the scandal. “We had a lower-level person in the public service brave enough to be a whistleblower and come forward,” McCauley said. “But you didn’t have that bravery.”Noseworthy defended his position, stating, “The whistleblower never came to me, and I’m not aware of the work of the whistleblower.”Liberal MP Jean Yip (Scarborough-Agincourt, Ont.) expressed frustration, saying, “I find it troubling that you were there at the meetings and you saw these conflicts and yet you did not act.” Noseworthy did not respond.The SDTC was dissolved on June 4 following revelations of widespread misconduct. MPs continue to investigate accountability in the scandal.
