Finance Committee on July 28th, 2020

Evidence of meeting #45 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was sir.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Government spending, WE Charity and the Canada Student Service Grant

MPs speaking

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Also speaking

Michelle Douglas Former Chair of the Board of Directors, WE Charity, As an Individual

Clerk of the Committee Ms. Caroline Bosc

Marc Kielburger Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger Founder, WE Charity

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

I know, but they haven't finished the answer to your third question back—

1:50 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

The board raised questions about this. The board raised questions about this.

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

—and they can—

1:50 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

You need to explain how this thing—

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Charlie, order.

1:50 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

—that you created—

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Order.

1:50 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

—was set up.

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Order, Mr. Angus.

Gentlemen, answer the question first. Then we'll allow Mr. Angus one final question.

1:55 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger

Sir, it was a legal structure that had the ultimate governance embedded within WE Charity. It used the WE Charity staff and senior resources. It was a contract that was established and signed by ESDC, and, by the way, under section 22, holding the provisions on insurance for the government, sir. This was a very well organized system at the advice of all the responsible experts.

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

This is your last question, Mr. Angus. We're well over time.

1:55 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Well, I guess what's really concerning here is that your board chair, whom you demanded to resign, had raised questions about why you had a shell company that was there to limit liability, and lo and behold, it just became the perfect avenue.

I mean, I don't hold a bunch of numbered companies. I would have thought you were just a charity, but no, it's set up to limit your liability. It was originally set up for real estate, and then you changed it. Don't you get that this looks kind of dodgy to the average Canadian, who's saying, “Oh, did we give these guys $500-and-some million, and we put it into that? Like, what is this?”

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

On the final question and final answer of this round, go ahead.

1:55 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

Sir, the information you're sharing is fundamentally incorrect. We're seeking to be able to share with you the proper information.

1:55 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

But I'm looking at the form that you—