Evidence of meeting #70 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 donation.
A video is available from Parliament.
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
To the very best of my knowledge, there was absolutely none.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Was there any contact between you, the board and the Government of Canada, aside from your fiduciary responsibilities to ISED and perhaps to the Canada Revenue Agency?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Outside of our responsibilities to ISED, there were none to my knowledge.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
As far as you know, there was no quid pro quo, in terms of that donation and any contact with the Government of Canada, to try to influence the affairs of the Government of Canada.
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
As far as I know, there was none.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Once again, back in 2014, when the initial approach was made, who was prime minister at the time?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
It was Mr. Harper, I believe.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Right. It wasn't as if this was done with the full light that things were going to work out for the third party in the House of Commons at the time.
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
That's correct. It was not obvious at that time. As one who has a political ear to the ground, it was a long shot.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Indeed, it was.
Mr. Johnson, why do you do what you do? Why are you involved with the Trudeau Foundation?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
I'm happy to be involved in preserving the name, and in recognizing a great man, a great public servant and a statesman, but as time has gone on and we have given the scholarships and have had our events and so on, I've met the scholars. Every time I meet the scholars, I'm so impressed with these young, brilliant people who are going to be making huge contributions to Canada. I am pleased that we are able to reinforce that and perhaps expand their knowledge of the country and lead them to be more effective as leaders.
We have dinners and so on with students. During COVID, we couldn't. However, every once in a while, we've now been able to have them, and it's so refreshing to meet these young minds. Some of them, like the young rocket scientist scholar who is working as an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, are tremendously impressive. To the—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Mr. Johnson and Mr. Fergus, that's five minutes.
Mr. Villemure, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Johnson, two and a half minutes is not very long. I've done a review of your resume and experience. It's impressive.
Today, however, your testimony was mostly repetition of other people's testimony, which I find amazing. So for the time we have left, I would like you to tell us your opinion of the truth. Why should we believe you more than Ms. Fournier, among others?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
I'm here to answer, and I must say, by the way, that I was invited to come here. I was not insisting on coming or asking to come here.
I have done my best to answer the questions honestly and fully. That is the limitation. I can't tell you things I don't know.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Yes, obviously. However, given your experience, which is seriously impressive, I'm surprised to learn that so much has escaped you or that you've been so uninvolved. We're talking about an issue that's making national headlines, and you're telling us that you talked to one person, but not the other. I'm just curious, because your resume doesn't suggest that.
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
I can't change your mind if you don't believe me.
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
I assure you that I am telling you the truth, but I cannot tell you more than I know.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Do you understand that it may be difficult for us to have only that portion where you testify from Mr. Rosenberg's or Mr. Trudeau's testimony?
It's just a question. I'm curious. We are not accusing you at all, but I would like to know what Edward Johnson thinks.
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
About what question do you want to know what I think?
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
I'd like to hear your thoughts on the set of questions you've been asked today.
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
I welcome them. I welcome the questions. I've done my best to answer them to the best of my ability and knowledge.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Thank you very much.
Mr. Johnson, you would agree that the foundation's purpose in perpetuity is to preserve the legacy of Pierre Elliott Trudeau?