Evidence of meeting #69 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was foundation.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Alexandre Trudeau  Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

6:05 p.m.

Liberal

Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC

Mr. Chair, do I have any time left?

6:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Brassard

You have 30 seconds.

6:05 p.m.

Liberal

Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC

Can I ask in my last question, Mr. Trudeau, if you feel that there is any one of those eight questions that has not been cleared up enough and that you want to elaborate on?

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Alexandre Trudeau

I must admit we've covered lots of different things. As I said, I will take up Mr. Green's offer. If the work continues and if there are further submissions that I have to make, I will.

6:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Brassard

Thank you, Mr. Housefather and Mr. Trudeau.

Mr. Villemure, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

So, Mr. Trudeau, you made representations on behalf of the foundation over the years.

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Alexandre Trudeau

Are you talking about public representations?

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

No, I'm talking about representing the foundation at meetings.

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Alexandre Trudeau

It didn't happen very often, but yes, occasionally.

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Did you ever meet the Aga Khan in Paris on behalf of the foundation?

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Did you ever meet him, more generally?

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Alexandre Trudeau

Yes, I met the Aga Khan in Ottawa approximately 10 years ago when he inaugurated his centre.

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

All right.

There was no link with the foundation, right?

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Okay.

Do you know David Johnston?

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Alexandre Trudeau

Yes, I've known him since I was a child.

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

He too has an interest in China.

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Alexandre Trudeau

Yes, he's a learned man who is interested in lots of things.

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

What is your relationship with him?

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Alexandre Trudeau

I knew him when I was very young. He was a friend of my father's. We used to go skiing together. He's also a great Canadian, and has been for a long time. I know his daughters. He is definitely a friend of the family.

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

So you are rather close to Mr. Johnston.

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Alexandre Trudeau

Not recently, but we were in the past. When I was younger, we used to go to his home, do some skiing together and often dine together.

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

It's because earlier on you mentioned an independent committee to shed light on the governance crisis, and Mr. Johnston has often told us that he is independent in his role of special rapporteur. I'll agree that this is not linked to our committee, but are we talking about the same kind of independence or even proximity?

6:05 p.m.

Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Alexandre Trudeau

Are you asking me to comment on Mr. Johnston's independence as a—