Evidence of meeting #41 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was volunteer.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Mr. Chair, if I could call on my colleague Ms. Hébert to answer, she has the details of the contribution agreement.
4:50 p.m.
Stephanie Hébert Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to speak to the contribution agreement.
As noted, there were a number of checks and balances that were integrated into the contribution agreement. We did have a clear payment schedule. The payment schedule was very clearly tied to the program activities that WE Charity was to undertake to support the design and delivery of the program. As well, the payment schedule also was aligned to, and very commensurate with, the expected uptake of the program. Therefore, we worked closely with WE Charity to negotiate that and to determine what payments would be made at what moments.
The other point I would like to make is that the contribution agreement is subject to monitoring. It is subject to regular reporting. WE Charity was responsible to provide regular reports to the Government of Canada, like we do in all contribution agreements. Similarly, it was subject to all of the other requirements that contribution agreement recipients are subject to—things like audit, evaluation and different program oversight measures—because it is, ultimately, a performance-based agreement that we are entering into with recipients.
Thank you.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Okay. Thank you, all.
We're turning now to Mr. Fortin. The floor is yours, sir, followed by Mr. Angus.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, Ms. Wernick.
Did you know Mr. Kielburger prior to contacting him on April 19?
4:50 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Good afternoon.
I had worked with WE Charity in the past as part of the Canada service corps program. I worked with him in that context and came to know the organization through the program.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
I see.
Did you contact other organizations, prior to April 22, to inquire whether they'd be willing to administer the program?
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
As I've repeatedly explained, it's important to consider the context in mid-April, with the crisis caused by the pandemic. We had a few days to discuss—
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Did you contact other organizations? Please keep your answer short, because I don't have much time.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
We considered a number of organizations, as I said earlier.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Yes, I can name a number of them off the top of my head.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
If we could, both of you, let's allow time for an answer here.
Ms. Wernick, did you talk to other organizations? I think that was the question.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
At the beginning of my statement, I mentioned that we had considered Canada service corps.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
That encompasses 12 organizations, including Apathy is Boring-RISE and Big Brothers Big Sisters. I don't know all the organizations' names in both languages.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
We consulted with all the organizations—
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Am I allowed to answer?
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Yes, but all I asked you was whether you had contacted other organizations and whether you had a list of them. I don't want you to name them, because it will use up all of my six minutes.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
I can provide a written list of the organizations we contacted. My apologies for taking up extra time.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Mr. Fortin, Ms. Wernick, if both people are speaking at the same time, the interpreters cannot translate.
We'll go to Mr. Fortin and then come back to Ms. Wernick.
Mr. Fortin.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Wernick, when you recommended Mr. Kielburger's organization, WE Charity, were you aware that the Prime Minister's wife had been an ambassador for the organization in the past?
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
I made the recommendation to my deputy minister, who presented it to the government. Yes, I was aware that the Prime Minister's wife was an ambassador for the organization on the issue of mental health.