B.C.含羞草研究社檚 Auditor-General and Comptroller General will be investigating an accounting firm含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社渘ew information含羞草研究社� 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 won含羞草研究社檛 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 含羞草研究社渧iew to examining any potential conflict of interest relating to program administrators charging success fees to successful applicants who use their advisory services.含羞草研究社�

Merritt-based Edison Motors 含羞草研究社� B.C.含羞草研究社檚 only company manufacturing electric semi-trucks 含羞草研究社� had first raised concerns about MNP含羞草研究社檚 role in the process.

MNP said in a statement issued before Osborne含羞草研究社檚 formal announcement that it cannot comment on specific grant applications for privacy reasons.

含羞草研究社淲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,含羞草研究社� it reads. 含羞草研究社淭hese allegations are false and misleading.含羞草研究社�

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The statement said MNP has policies and procedures to address potential conflicts of interest.

含羞草研究社淢NP含羞草研究社檚 policies and procedures prohibit team members from providing grant writing services for the programs we administer,含羞草研究社� it reads. 含羞草研究社淥ur program administration work on behalf of CleanBC is no different.含羞草研究社�

The statement adds that MNP is committed to 含羞草研究社渇ull transparency and accountability for every public program含羞草研究社� administrated by the company. 含羞草研究社�(We) welcome a government-initiated program review.含羞草研究社�

Osborne said the investigations will focus on whether MNP followed the rules.

含羞草研究社淪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,含羞草研究社� Osborne said.

含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 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.含羞草研究社�

Chace Barber, founder and chief executive officer of Edison Motors, said he welcomes the investigation, but would like to see it go further. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 not after MNP, I含羞草研究社檓 not trying to go after MNP,含羞草研究社� Barber said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 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.含羞草研究社�