Who gets the money?

Who Gets the Money? The Hidden Players in Canada’s Climate Credit Scheme



1. Brokers and Aggregators

Carbon credits don’t sell themselves. They’re packaged and marketed by brokers like AirCarbon Exchange, Xpansiv, and Canadian firms like Will Solutions, who take a cut of every credit sold. Aggregators bundle small projects into portfolios and profit from scale.

These aren’t environmental groups. They’re traders in a speculative market.

2. Green Investment Funds

The Canada Growth Fund (CGF)—sometimes called a "green slush fund"—commits billions to backstop the price of carbon credits. This ensures there’s always a buyer, keeping the market alive—even when environmental value is unclear. Taxpayer money props up ESG investments while local services face cuts.

3. International Utilities and Conglomerates

Municipal money spent on credits often ends up with foreign energy giants, carbon capture developers, or RE100-aligned megafirms who generate credits through massive wind farms or biogas operations. These companies pocket public funds from Canadian towns with no obligation to return value.

💥 The SDTC Scandal: A Warning Shot

In 2024, the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) fund collapsed under scandal. The Auditor General found:

• $59 million given to ineligible projects
• 186 cases of conflict of interest
• Board members funding companies they were personally tied to

This scandal halted Parliament for weeks and showed how easily “green” funding can be misused when public money flows without scrutiny.