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.
5:15 p.m.
Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
It was always raised, especially in the early days. First it was the paperwork to make sure that it was well documented, frankly, long before he became Prime Minister.
5:15 p.m.
Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
It was documented through a letter from him and acknowledged by both the board, I believe, and the members that it was on the record. The bylaws on the foundation are a little bit odd, and in fact they've stipulated that three family members are the executors of the testament. This came from the civil servants who wrote the bylaws, so, by force, Justin Trudeau is and was an executor of the last will and testament of Pierre Trudeau, so we had to be corrected.
Right after the fact, basically at every meeting, we said these were new times now and—
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
We're going back to the question of governance. We're going back to the subject matter experts around the table—high-powered lawyers, Power Corporation people—yet there were no policies and procedures, nothing in writing that you could submit to this committee that would create an assurance to us that there was a process in place whereby, should politically sensitive situations occur, there would be a firewall between the now Prime Minister and the foundation.
5:15 p.m.
Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
The firewall was constantly affirmed and constantly reiterated to the public and whomever that we are a non-partisan organization with no political links.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I'll give you the opportunity just to clarify and put it on the record. You don't have to name names, but is it safe to say that you probably had appointees from many different political backgrounds and parties?
5:15 p.m.
Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Absolutely. There were very fine individuals from many different parties.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
With regard to the question of the donation, do you believe that the donor on the tax receipt was the true donor of the $200,000?
5:15 p.m.
Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
The tax receipt was for a company, and the true donors were these individuals. As is normal practice since, I believe—as I was explaining—Hamilton v. Bank of Montreal from the 1920s, corporations are empowered to make donations on behalf of individuals.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
In our last committee meeting, an article from La Presse was referenced that stated that in 2016, a board member made a senior staff member aware that the real donor wasn't the same donor as on the tax receipt. That's an allegation that was made. In her testimony, Pascale Fournier stated that the board member in question was Farah Mohamed.
In 2016, were you made aware that the real donor was allegedly not the donor listed on the tax receipt?
5:15 p.m.
Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
It's absolutely false—that's one of my points—that there was any confusion around these donors. It was always this company, with multiple addresses—which allowed our ex-president to make some confusion around it—and these two individuals. There was no confusion about that then, and there never has been.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
That concludes the time. The only reason I allowed it to go a little bit further is because you mentioned Hamilton, Mr. Green.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
“Hamilton”. That's the word of the day.
Mr. Berthold, you have the floor for five minutes.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much, Mr. Trudeau, for being here.
You said that you were worried about interference by the communist Chinese regime in democracies. How long do you believe the communist Chinese regime has been attempting to meddle in universities and democracies around the world?
5:20 p.m.
Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
You would know better than I, but I do know that all the major powers in the world are trying to interfere in one way or another. China, based on what I know, is fourth on the list of countries that represent the greatest threat in terms of interference.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
You therefore know that this regime has been attempting to interfere in western democracies for a long time.
5:20 p.m.
Member, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
It may not be a matter of interference. The greatest danger lies with business acquisitions.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Thank you.
In view of the long-standing relations between the Trudeau family and your father with China, your brother Justin's admiration for the basic dictatorship of the communist regime, as he himself stated—
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
—and your own relationship with China and the current regime, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation became a choice target for a regime seeking to extend its influence around the world, as you yourself mentioned. Canada itself became a target owing to the political position filled by your brother, who at the time was the head of a political party and who is now Prime Minister.