The investigation found that Verschuren “improperly furthered the interests” of companies associated with MaRS Discovery District and the Verschuren Centre—business accelerators where Verscuren holds board positions—by granting them money through Sustainable Development Technology Canada, a federal cleantech funding agency. (The Logic)

Talking point: The findings cap more than a year of controversy surrounding SDTC, after whistleblowers accused the agency of conflicts of interest and financial mismanagement. An auditor general report last month validated many of their claims, prompting the agency to be absorbed into the National Research Council of Canada. A main complaint centred on Verschuren’s role in approving pandemic relief grants for NRStor, an SDTC portfolio firm and a company she leads as CEO and board chair. Those decisions “furthered her private interests, and she should have recused herself,” ethics commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein wrote in his report published Wednesday. The commissioner cleared Verschuren, however, of allegations that she influenced other board members’ decisions on relief payments. Verschuren resigned as SDTC chair in November, following CEO Leah Lawrence’s resignation.