It was once the driver of Canada’s nascent clean-technology industry, supported by Liberal and Conservatives alike.
Publicly funded but arms-length from government bureaucracy since 2001, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) was a lifeline to entrepreneurs desperate to find money for their clean-tech innovations.
That was until a damaging mismanagement scandal rocked the agency and the House of Commons last year, forcing the Trudeau government on its heels and prompting it to launch a drastic overhaul of the fund.
Now, in the backdrop of the crisis, industry insiders worry the growth of a sector critical to Canada’s transition to a green economy is under threat.
“There are tons of jobs at stake, tons of fundamental business opportunities,” said Peter McArthur, chair of the Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association.
“That brilliant idea that’s coming out of a lab in Hamilton, in Edmonton, in Sherbrooke, is at risk of not seeing the light of day without this sort of funding. Maybe that solution is going to reduce the likelihood of those forest fires in Alberta and B.C., maybe it’s going to … help us go in a different direction regarding the flooding in Ontario and Quebec this year, or the heat that’s been so punitive to so many people.”
“This gives us a chance.” Here’s the story of how a once lauded federal fund became a punching bag for Justin Trudeau’s political rivals, and the uncertainty it faces going forward.
What is Sustainable Development Technology Canada?
Even while acknowledging it’s a cliché, industry experts who spoke to the Star say Canada has always punched above its weight when it comes to clean tech or products that help reduce the negative environmental impacts of using natural resources.
Denne historien er fra September 04, 2024-utgaven av Toronto Star.
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Denne historien er fra September 04, 2024-utgaven av Toronto Star.
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Disgraceful behaviour on Parliament Hill
‘Was it you or not?’ Jagmeet Singh confronts heckler on Parliament Hill, Sept. 17
How to Fix our Congestion Crisis - Toronto has some of the worst congestion on the continent, Coun. Brad Bradford writes. Fixing it requires common sense and better planning and prioritization at the top.
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Sports needs characters we can root for, and characters we can blame, writes Edward Keenan. Rogers buying Bell's MLSE stake will supply more of the latter, starting with chairman Edward Rogers.For a sports fan, there’s something satisfying about that. For years with the Leafs in particular, the owner was a pension plan, and it was hard to tell if its controlling executives (never mind the teachers whose money they were spending) cared about hockey one way or the other. And whether they did or not, how could you figure out who was responsible for what they did as a result?
Lebanon is Rocked Again by Deadly Exploding Devices - Israel acknowledges 'new phase in war'; civilians among dead
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Feds Impose New Limits on International Students - Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced new limits on international students Wednesday, saying Canada is facing an untenable number of people wishing to come here.
Enrolment cuts, work permit restrictions will further slow population growth. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced new limits on international students Wednesday, saying Canada is facing an untenable number of people wishing to come here.Canada will reduce the annual cap on study permits by another 10 per cent in 2025 and restrict eligibility for international graduates' work permits to better meet labour market needs, amid continuing public pressure to tame runaway population growth.
Bloc Will Vote to Prop up Liberals - Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, said he does not have confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority government, but believes he can use the situation to push for his party's priorities.
Leader says he will oppose Tory motion to bring down Trudeau government. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, said he does not have confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority government, but believes he can use the situation to push for his party's priorities.
Dutcher wins second Polaris award
Singer donating prize to school in New Brunswick
