Evidence of meeting #24 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I bet you don't want to answer about what you're doing with your Kenyan donors. I understand that too.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Let's answer Mr. Angus's question if that's possible. Then we'll turn to Mr. Barrett.
Mr. Kielburger, we'll turn to you for a short answer with regard to Mr. Angus's question.
Founder, WE Charity
Mr. Cowan gave help to children in Kenya. That's exactly what he did. That school continues to operate. With all those schools, thousands of children have graduated. We are deeply grateful to him. We're looking through records from 15 years ago to find out what happened.
You are absolutely right, sir. Mr. Cowan is absolutely right. It never should have happened. We are upset, frankly, more than you, Mr. Angus. We're upset about this, because it should not have happened. We agree with you.
Conservative
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Staying focused on the CSSG, I want to be very clear that my question is with respect to the Canada student service grant.
Have you or has anyone in your organization been contacted by the RCMP with respect to the CSSG?
Founder, WE Charity
We've now answered this question from three different people.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Could you actually answer the question that's asked, instead of carrying on with your lawyer? You responded to me, previously, that you had not been contacted by the RCMP with respect to Mr. Angus's letter. That is not my question.
My question is, have you or has anyone in your organization been contacted by the RCMP with respect to the CSSG? Not if you or your brother, I'm asking about you or anyone in your organization, or affiliated with your organization.
Founder, WE Charity
Apparently, I have no problems actually answering your question. I think we already did.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
You didn't. You didn't answer it.
Founder, WE Charity
[Inaudible—Editor] integrity investigations....We're supposed to leave this to the RCMP to actually comment and disclose on such matters according to the assistant deputy minister. I feel we've answered, but that is out of respect for the RCMP, even though—
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Sorry, is the gentleman sitting next to you a serving assistant deputy minister in a government here?
Founder, WE Charity
He served under Prime Minister Harper, and he served under Prime Minister Martin as associate deputy minister.
Please feel free to contact the RCMP if you'd like, but I feel we gave our—
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
At this time, are you prepared to provide in writing authorization for the RCMP to disclose to this committee whether or not an investigation is ongoing, or if it has initiated any contact with you or anyone in your organization with respect to the Canada student service grant? Will you undertake to provide that authorization in writing?
Founder, WE Charity
I'm actually somewhat befuddled by this entire exchange. The letter went in last week. The RCMP hasn't contacted us.
That being said—
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
I'm not asking about Mr. Angus's letter.
I'm asking for you to undertake to provide to this committee, in writing, authorization to be forwarded to the RCMP to disclose if it has contacted you or anyone in your organization with respect to the Canada student service grant. Yes or no?
Founder, WE Charity
I will consult the RCMP on that very question. We're happy to circle back as soon as the RCMP gives us direction on this. This is an apolitical body of the RCMP. We're just stuck in the middle.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Did you have any communications or conversations with anyone in government or in the Prime Minister's Office prior to your appearance at the parliamentary committee in the summer?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
At that committee meeting, you said that none of your conversations with Minister Chagger were with respect to grants. Is that correct?
Founder, WE Charity
No, no, no. That's actually not correct. No, no, no. Nothing regarding the Canada student service grant, but we spoke to Minister Chagger about the proposal that we had been talking about regarding unemployment. I absolutely brought that up with her.
Founder, WE Charity
And youth entrepreneurship. Yes, youth social entrepreneurship is what it was titled.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Why was your lobbying notice modified with respect to the disclosure with respect to which staff were present at that meeting?
Founder, WE Charity
Because we would do our best the first time we submitted it, and we then learned that a mistake was made, so we clarified the line item.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
How many communications did the WE organization have with the government in April 2020?