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.
Founder, WE Charity
A well-planned, well-executed process took place—I say well-planned, but I will acknowledge not executed as well as we had hoped—starting in the fall of 2019, looking at board renewal as we approached 25 years as an organization, and a number of board members—
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I know, but she said that you wanted her to be extended and then, after Marc hung up on her, you demanded she resign. so let's not talk about a well-ordered plan. I'm asking about accountability here. This is the issue. It's accountability.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Things will go a lot smoother if we allow an answer in detail, and we'll all save time.
Go ahead, Mr. Kielburger.
Founder, WE Charity
Thank you.
In the fall of 2019 it started. Names for new board members were identified. The process was under way. During that process, something none of us could have imagined, a global pandemic, took place. There were near-daily briefings. Fourteen briefings, to be precise, with various board members, took place. There was a full board meeting. From when the request for a staffing list was acknowledged, nine days were provided to the board, and for full financial modelling, there were 11 days.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you.
Mr. Easter, will you let me continue? My time is about half over. If you're going to keep—
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
If you want to run the questions, Mr. Chair.... I'm down to less than half my time now, so I need to move on.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I am not going to take time away from you, but I want to give the witnesses an opportunity for a thorough answer. We have four hours with these witnesses. We should be able to allow them full answers.
If it were politicians, then we'd get into the four-second, four-second business, but it's not.
Complete your answer, if you can, in less than 15 seconds, Mr. Kielburger.
Founder, WE Charity
Suffice it to say we respect Michelle's decision on the matter. We believe that the other board members—
In fact, Michelle had one date on which she transitioned. By the way, we asked if she would transition three months later. She chose to do so immediately. We respected that.
The other board members went through a different process. The board today has eight highly qualified individuals: a doctor—
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you.
Okay, what we heard was that she was asking financial details. Marc got angry and hung up. You called her and you said you wanted her—
Liberal
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
So then what we find out.... The Liberals keep telling us about the great work of WE Charity. I don't doubt that, but WE Charity isn't handling this money; it's the WE foundation, which she raised questions about.
You moved this money into what is essentially a real estate holding company with no oversight. Don't you figure that Canadians are going to have red flags about...? I've never heard of a real estate holding company getting upwards of $500 million of taxpayers' money to deliver a program.
Founder, WE Charity
Sir, it was not a real estate holding company. Global News provided that information incorrectly. We have sought to have that information changed multiple times. If you go back to the source data of the Global News reports, they have changed it in the body, but they have not changed it in the title of the headline.
It was not a real estate holding company. It has never held any real estate. No real estate and no assets have ever been placed in—
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I know there are no assets in there, but it does say that it is there to provide and maintain facilities to house the operations.
Now, come on, boys, men; I'm not a real estate lawyer, and I don't know law, but I know that you guys have multiple corporations. You have this one that's set up to hold real estate, but it doesn't actually hold anything.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Why is that where you decide to put your money? That's the question. There are no accountability mechanisms.
Founder, WE Charity
I'm really glad you asked the question, because this is actually very much incorrect. We're really thrilled to be able to set the record straight here today.