Information & Ethics Committee on May 2nd, 2023

[Morris Rosenberg]

Yes, that is correct.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Information was never communicated proactively.

For example, regarding the discussions with the association, in connection with the committee that was created between the universities and the foundation, you did not give information to the government.

[Morris Rosenberg]

Absolutely not.

There is no coordination with the government regarding donations.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

So the donation was managed solely by that committee, with no interference from the government.

[Morris Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Okay.

[Morris Rosenberg]

As I said, most of the negotiations took place before the 2015 election. The agreement had not been signed at that point, because a small part, which did not come from us, dealt with the Université de Montréal, and it was not ready. The donors, who rarely visited Montreal, had already left and we had to wait for another time.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Okay.

Ms. Fournier also said that the foundation had never been pressured to organize conferences between Canada and China. Since the donation was connected with an agreement for organizing conferences, in particular concerning relations between the two countries, were you pressured to organize such conferences?

[Morris Rosenberg]

I was never pressured by anyone.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

So the association did not follow up to do anything regarding the donations given. It did not make calls or send emails to ask why that had not been done.

[Morris Rosenberg]

No. No request was made by the donors to do anything. Under the agreement, the conferences had to relate to global issues concerning Canada and China. It was very broad, and it was up to us, in collaboration with the faculty of law at the Université de Montréal, to decide the nature of the conferences.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Were you pressured, at some point, or did you feel that there was pressure, to select universities or scholars who come from the Chinese community, for example, or who have a particular interest in China?

[Morris Rosenberg]

Never.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Okay.

Can you also confirm for the members of the committee that this donation was made entirely transparently, in compliance with the internal policies of the foundation, and with no interference by China?

The committee members and Canadians who are watching us want to be sure that the foundation is not subject to interference by China.

[Morris Rosenberg]

I can assure you of that.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Can you confirm for us that there has been no interference by the government and by the Prime Minister in connection with the donation that was made?

[Morris Rosenberg]

I am not aware of any communication with the Prime Minister, his office, or other bodies within the government regarding this matter.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you, Ms. Martinez Ferrada and Mr. Rosenberg.

Mr. Villemure, the floor is yours for six minutes.

[René Villemure, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to start by tabling a motion that has been provided to the clerk, and that I am going to read for you. Moved:

That, in the context of the Trudeau Foundation component of the study on foreign interference and threats to the integrity of democratic institutions, intellectual property and the Canadian state, the committee may reinvite the witnesses already heard or other witnesses that the committee deems relevant, following the information that will be revealed by the documents transmitted by Ms. Pascale Fournier, former president and CEO of the Foundation.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you, Mr. Villemure. Since you have the floor, the motion is in order.

Madam Clerk tells me that she has distributed it and that all members have received it, so we can begin the discussion.

Mr. Fergus, the floor is yours.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to know whether the motion can be amended to add the documents that will be provided by Mr. Rosenberg.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

We have an amendment from Mr. Fergus. Does the committee agree?

Ms. Khalid, do you have something to say?

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

I do. I just want to check with you to see if this motion is tight enough. I just want to make sure that it's not vague, which makes it difficult for you to do your job, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

I appreciate that. We've been running into some circumstances where it's open to interpretation.

In my view, Mr. Villemure's motion is appropriate and tight enough and gives direction not just to me as the chair, but also to the clerk. I appreciate you asking that.

We have an amendment from Mr. Fergus. Do we have unanimous consent to accept that amendment?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Do we have unanimous consent for Mr. Villemure's motion as amended?

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Madam Clerk, are you clear on that? Okay.

Mr. Villemure, I have stopped the clock. You have 5 minutes and 54 seconds. You may begin.