Declaration of Emergency Committee on Dec. 1st, 2022

[Jacob Wells]

No, we did not.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Were you ever contacted by any federal government official to discontinue your support for the “freedom convoy”?

[Jacob Wells]

No, we were not.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I know this might be a question you will get from other members of this committee, so I thought I would deal with it right from the get-go.

I understand there were two sources of crowdfunding affiliated with your company. One was the “adopt a trucker” crowdfunding, and the other was the “freedom convoy 2022” donation.

Is that accurate?

[Jacob Wells]

That is correct.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Of the “adopt a trucker” crowdfunding, am I correct with these numbers? According to your company, a total of just under $600,000 U.S. was raised.

[Jacob Wells]

That sounds correct.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

The majority of that, to the tune of 55%, came from our host country, Canada.

Is that correct?

[Jacob Wells]

From a value percentage, it was 59%.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

That's correct.

Roughly 41% originated from the United States.

[Jacob Wells]

I believe it was 37%, value-wise.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Okay.

From other countries, it was just under $20,000.

Would that be accurate?

[Jacob Wells]

That sounds about right.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Of the other country contributions, do you have a number with respect to the Russian Federation?

[Jacob Wells]

I do not believe we noticed any donations coming from Russia. In looking at it, I didn't notice any. I can go back and, if there are, provide that for you. However, I don't believe there are any.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Were you aware that politicians in our country, as well as our national, taxpayer-funded media, the CBC, broadcast that there were Russian influences with respect to this convoy and money coming from that country? Were you aware of that?

[Jacob Wells]

I believe I became aware of that later, after the fact. That is something I recall, but I don't believe I knew it in that moment.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Okay.

With respect to the “freedom convoy” donations, I understand there were a total of just over 113,000 donors.

[Jacob Wells]

That's correct.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

That's just under 40,000 donations from Canada.

[Jacob Wells]

Yes, that's correct.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Okay.

I'm out of time. I'm sure one of my colleagues will pick up the narrative, on that point.

Thank you.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Thank you, Mr. Brock.

We're moving to Mr. Virani.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Wells, for rejoining us.

I'm going to pick up where you indicated, to Mr. Brock, that you were aware GoFundMe stopped giving the “freedom convoy” protesters in Canada money, and you stepped into the breach.

Is that correct?

[Jacob Wells]

That's correct.