CleanBC grants to be invesitaged after conflict allegations [Video]

Edison Motors is a Merritt-based company that makes electric-powered logging trucks—the first of its kind in B.C.

Yet the company has never received a CleanBC grant—funded by the carbon tax—intended to help such cutting-edge technology, despite applying multiple times, says its founder, Chace Barber.

“We haven’t gotten a single one, despite three years of applying,” he said Monday. “But we’re like, we’re doing innovative stuff, how come we’re not getting any?”

The company’s frustrations went viral this past weekend with TikTok videos flagging concerns about alleged or potential conflicts of interest by a consulting company, MNP LLP.

MNP has been contracted by the province to administer the CleanBC grants, and it also writes applications.

Barber says he doesn’t think MNP broke any rules, but says his company felt pressured to hire them, even at a so-called 20 per cent success fee.

“MNP was administering a grant, they turned us down …