Hansard, TPC, Audit, Secrecy & the Missing Link, Other links to TPC & ZENON, Bombardier & More

Today, I read something very disturbing; information that had been available on a government website had disappeared -- and this is not the first time this has happened. One of the dangers of storing information online is that it can be caused to disappear at the click of a mouse. What happens to documentation and accurate history if this is the case? What happens to the people's right to know and to take action if they see something that their government is doing of which they disapprove? Whoever controls the website and the documents determines the history.

What I found interesting--if you skim down--is that the usual company names pop up: ZENON ( Check Maurice Strong), RIM (Check NTP patent or copyright problem), Bombardier . . . even something to benefit CSL, and more.

Why are the taxpayers of Canada funding a company, ZENON, pursuing business in China?

Or is this not significant? Is anything else being shared with China in other TPC agreements? Was any lobbyist paid to help get agreements?



Background: Hansard and news articles

Hansard June 27, 2005: Technology Partnerships Canada

Mr. James Rajotte (Edmonton—Leduc, CPC): Mr. Speaker, last week I searched the Technology Partnerships Canada website for a list of current repayments of the more than $2.7 billion that has been loaned out. There was a link, but it did not work.

Today the link on the TPC website to the repayment schedule has been erased completely, as if it was never there in the first place. Why did Industry Canada remove the link to the list of TPC repayments? What is the minister trying to hide?

Hon. David Emerson (Minister of Industry, Lib.): . . . I am unaware of. . . .

Mr. James Rajotte (Edmonton—Leduc, CPC): Mr. Speaker, this vanishing link to repayments is a classic example of the mismanagement and secrecy that surrounds this whole program. They did the same thing when we asked about job creation figures. They removed that from the website.

The industry minister refuses to release the results of the forensic audit of TPC. Now he even refuses to allow the public to see how much of its money has been repaid under this program. Will the industry minister commit today in the House to put the repayments back on the website and will he release the results of this audit today? [. . . . ]

Mr. Werner Schmidt (Kelowna—Lake Country, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry has acknowledged in this House that $2 million of TPC money has been paid to the wrong people and not to legitimate companies seeking funding. [. . . . ]

Mr. Werner Schmidt (Kelowna—Lake Country, CPC): Mr. Speaker, that is typical Liberal rhetoric. Despite admitting that $2 million in TPC funds has already been misappropriated in the form of kickbacks to Liberal lobbyists, the minister refuses to put a stop to it.

Now he is asking the public to trust an audit conducted by his own office. When will the minister take responsibility for his department's failure, ask the Auditor General of Canada to conduct a full audit and stop the misappropriation of these TPC funds? [. . . . ]

End of the Hansard excerpt




via Surfwax Accounting News

Massive audit into federal technology fund remains shrouded in secrecy Jun 20, 2005

Massive federal audit shrouded in secrecy Jun 19, 2005

Industry Canada hired an accounting firm, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, to examine the books of 47 companies receiving money from Technology Partnerships Canada, a multibillion-dollar fund to promote research and development. Advertisements. (Globe and Mail)

Hansard: Technology Partnerships Canada -- (1440) Scroll down.

Mr. James Rajotte (Edmonton Leduc, CPC): Mr. Speaker, yesterday the industry minister admitted that consulting fees have been paid to some lobbyists as a reward if their clients were successful in securing a grant from Technology Partnerships Canada. Media reports state that at least $3.7 million in commissions have been paid to certain lobbyists, yet rewarding lobbyists for getting government grants is a breach of contract under TPC's own guidelines.

Will the industry minister reveal how many millions have been paid to lobbyists for securing government grants and which lobbyists have received this money?

Hon. David Emerson (Minister of Industry, Lib.): [. . . . ] We are investigating the matter. We will be releasing our forensic audit. We will be releasing further audit details in the fall. [. . . . ]

Massive audit into technology fund shrouded in secrecy -- "improper commissions paid on government funds?" Dean Beeby, June 20, 05

Technology Partnerships Canada has been dogged by controversy since its founding in 1996 to promote innovation in aerospace, automotive, defence and high-tech companies.

The government has contended that the seed money it provides to technology projects will be paid back — up to twice over, in some cases — in the form of royalties based on commercial success.

But as of January, only $95-million of the $2-billion paid out since the fund opened shop has been returned. Critics have charged that the program is nothing but a giant subsidy fund for Liberal-favoured corporations, such as Bombardier and Pratt and Whitney Canada.

Massive audit into federal technology fund remains shrouded in secrecy June 19, 2005, DEAN BEEBY

OTTAWA (CP) - Improper commissions paid on government funds? Federal money siphoned off to middlemen?

No, it's not the Gomery inquiry. Industry Canada has ordered a massive audit into $490 million in handouts to dozens of technology firms to determine whether any tax dollars were misused.

The investigation into the 58 projects got under way last August, just before the Gomery commission began public hearings - but unlike Gomery, the audit remains shrouded in secrecy

Massive audit into federal technology fund remains shrouded in secrecy June 28, 05, Dean Beeby


www.moneysense.ca/news/shownews.jsp?content=b061


Caveat: I know virtually nothing about auditing nor auditors -- but what is listed does look intriguing. I came to this through a Google search of "Technology Partnerships Canada, audit, forensic"

Richard Hawkins Research -- See "Appendix contents" (subject to change without notice):

The above led to a Google search for "Technology Partnerships Canada" -- first from that department's own website.

Technology Partnerships Canada [Created: 2005-06-23 Updated: 2005-06-27 ]

TPC's main R&D program . . . . The program focuses on key technology areas such as Environmental Technologies, Aerospace and Defence Technologies and Enabling Technologies, which includes biotechnology and health related applications, as well as manufacturing and communications technologies. [. . . . ]

Scroll down and check the menu.

Government of Canada Invests in Clean Heavy Oil Recovery Technology
Calgary, Alberta | April 1, 2005

This Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) investment is part of a $44.7-million development and demonstration project being undertaken by Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. of Calgary. The WHITESANDS pilot project will field demonstrate Petrobank’s patented THAI™ (Toe-to-Heel Air Injection) heavy oil recovery process in the Christina Lake area, south of Fort McMurray.

(Also, I searched Google for Petrobank and Petrobank: Beneficiary of Plan Petroleum in Putumayo -- which led to information on a program of "aerial fumigation campaign" in Columbia and a connection to Petrobank Energy, which may be interesting from the point of view of the law of unintended consequences.

Petrobank background information

Petrobank acquired rival Western Canadian explorer Barrington Petroleum (with oil and gas assets in Alberta) in 2001. . . . It has moved into Colombia as a new focus of exploration and production, and has established two producing fields and three exploration blocks.)

Government of Canada Invests in Research to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
Vancouver, British Columbia | April 1, 2005 MIGENIX Inc


Government of Canada Invests $28.3 Million in Innovative Technology in British Columbia
Ottawa, Ontario | June 14, 2005

CellFor Inc. [. . . . ] In addition, TPC will invest in two hydrogen fuel cell technology research projects with the potential to advance the hydrogen economy, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a sustainable environment.

Minister Emerson Announces Investment for R&D in Display Technologies
Ottawa, Ontario | June 24, 2005

Drawing on the expertise gained in developing its thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) technology, Luxell will apply existing technologies in new combinations, resulting in innovative solutions to the challenges of current flat panel display technologies. These technologies are used in a variety of applications, from cell phones to airplane cockpits, [. . . . ]

The three key desired outcomes of this project include the development of a tool kit that allows flat panel display components to be cost-effectively adapted for use in a variety of settings; an active-matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) process that permits reconfiguration of components and alleviates obsolescence issues; and (TFEL) technologan organic light-emitting diode (OLED) process that enables use in the harshest of environments.

Government of Canada Helps Small Aerospace Firm Seize Giant Technological Opportunity
Ottawa, Ontario | June 28, 2005

[. . . . ] GasTOPS Ltd., of Ottawa, to further develop its MetalSCAN sensor technology that detects metallic debris in lubricating oil systems thereby protecting mission-critical equipment. The company will improve the technology base of its system and then (TFEL) develop specific applications for use in the F-35 aircraft being produced by Lockheed Martin.

Aerospace & Defence

[. . . . ] TPC is also supporting projects by Canadian companies taking part in the multinational Joint Strike Fighter program. The goal of this program is to develop a new line-up of fighter jets that minimizes fabrication and life cycle costs.

Aerospace & Defence Project List

The following is a listing of TPC’s investments in the area of aerospace and defence [. . . . ]

Clean Drinking Water Around The World -- ZENON in which Maurice Strong has an interest.

[. . . . ] ZENON Environmental Inc., based in Oakville, Ontario, develops water filtration technologies that protect our drinking water supply and reduce the impact of human activities on local aquifers.

TPC Stories -- Success Stories

Search: There is a long list which includes:

ZENON

Advanced Membrane Technologies for water and water treatment -- China ia undertaking a massive program to improve its infrastructure as the country prepares to host the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.


ZENON to install its technology for Olympic Village -- China's Olympic Village for 2008

OAKVILLE, Ontario, June 21, 2005 – ZENON Environmental Inc. (TSX: ZEN and ZEN.NV.A; OTC: ZNEVF and ZNEAF) has received a purchase order to provide its ZeeWeed membrane for tertiary treatment in China’s Olympic Village. The order is valued at approximately $5 million.

ZeeWeed Tertiary Treatment


INCO (The road to a sustainable future - hybrid cars are leading the way)

RIM

OSL -- Off Shore Limited "OSI Navigation is the pioneer in geo-spatial intelligence and the world-leading fleet supplier of electronic chart systems for navigation and situational awareness . . . ECPINS") -- e.g. customers

COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS

Our commercial customers include some of North America's leading shipping operators:

* American Steamship Company
* B.C. Ferry Corporation
* Canada Steamship Lines
* Great Lakes Transportation
* Oglebay Norton
* USS Great Lakes

Allan Rock and Herb Dhaliwal Announce $19.77 Million for British Columbia Companies to Foster Cutting-Edge Research and Development

A $5.59-million investment in new technologies for air traffic management products, to meet the future needs of both civilian and military applications, while providing increased safety, will help Raytheon Canada Limited of Richmond, British Columbia, continue to compete successfully with new and innovative products.

The $3.19-million investment in advanced research and development for aircraft components will help Avcorp Industries Incorporated, of Delta, British Columbia, as it increasingly becomes a supplier of choice for major aircraft manufacturers.

Technology Partnerships Canada's investment of $1.14-million in materials for industrial and military infrared imaging and seeking systems will assist Firebird Semiconductors Limited, of Trail, British Columbia, in strengthening its position as a world leader.

Search:

"3 - Mapping the North: A Challenge on a Grand Scale"

"6 - RADARSAT-2 Polarimetry Workshop"


Canada–Finland Collaboration

Remote Sensing Technology Geomatics


RADARSAT

---