Finance Committee on July 16th, 2020

[Rachel Wernick]

Mr. Chair, if I could call on my colleague Ms. Hébert to answer, she has the details of the contribution agreement.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[Rachel Wernick]

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.

[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?

[Rachel Wernick]

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—

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Did you contact other organizations? Please keep your answer short, because I don't have much time.

[Rachel Wernick]

We considered a number of organizations, as I said earlier.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Do you have a list of those organizations?

[Rachel Wernick]

Yes, I can name a number of them off the top of my head.

[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.

[Rachel Wernick]

At the beginning of my statement, I mentioned that we had considered Canada service corps.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I can't hear, Mr. Chair.

[Rachel Wernick]

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.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Can we have the list?

[Rachel Wernick]

We consulted with all the organizations—

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Sorry, but I don't want you to list them off to me.

[Rachel Wernick]

Am I allowed to answer?

[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.

[Rachel Wernick]

I can provide a written list of the organizations we contacted. My apologies for taking up extra time.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

That's kind.

Thank you, Ms. Wernick.

[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.

[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?

[Rachel Wernick]

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.