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.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
I would like to get your opinion on the set of questions I am asking. I'd like to know what you think, rather than what Mr. Rosenberg would have said.
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
All right. I understand now.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
You are the chair of a board of directors, and members resign en bloc, which is somewhat unusual. There was pressure, I think. What do you think about that?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Yes, this is absolutely unusual. I'm so sorry about that, because it's a result of the national attention that's been given to the foundation, which has put a lot of pressure on the board. I am sorry that these resignations have taken place because, personally, I believe that we would now be in the middle of the external review. The board could have been dealing with all the other important issues that occupy a board.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Earlier, my colleague across the aisle asked you several questions about whether you were hiring people based on their political background and so forth. I won't repeat everything she said, because she said quite a bit.
I understand that this was not a criterion for recruiting members or scholarship recipients, but you can't, in a non-partisan foundation, spare the thought that you are a Power Corporation alum. So there are quite a few people who come from the Liberal sphere, even if it is not a criterion for admission as such. There is, I would say, a network around the foundation. Is that the case?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
It must be said that there are several networks, such as the academic one. Other people, like myself, come from a variety of backgrounds.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
All right. Nonetheless, there are not a lot of Bloc Québécois members.
You talked about the $1‑million donation to the University of Montreal and the $200,000 or $140,000 that were given to you. Is it common for a university to make such a request of you?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
In my opinion, it isn't. I am not, however, aware of all the steps and conversations that would have taken place with the universities.
I agree with you that it was a unique circumstance. All I know about it comes from the other witnesses who have appeared here before the committee.
Bloc
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
As chair of the board, it is to ensure good governance of the organization and the board itself.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
According to the answer to my colleague's question earlier, the governance seemed to be deficient, as there was no policy for donations and such. That was up to you.
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Yes, but let me switch to English, as I need to clearly articulate my point.
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Yes, sir.
In my role, I want to make sure that we have various things in place, but I require the co-operation of the full board in making those things happen and management as well in supporting them—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Thank you, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Villemure.
I need to keep to the schedule, because we don't have much time.
Mr. Green, you have five minutes. Go ahead, sir.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Mr. Johnson, given your past history with the Trudeau family, is it safe to say that the children would have grown up around you in some capacity?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
They would have encountered me—
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
The current Prime Minister?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Gosh, since about 1980.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Did you have any conversations with the Prime Minister during your time as the chair of the board regarding the foundation after he was elected Prime Minister?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
No, none.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Did Mr. Rosenberg, in his term as president, bring forward any concerns regarding the donation to the board?
Chair of the Board of the Foundation, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Not—