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

MPs speaking

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

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

You couldn't have kept a time sheet to prove that?

We'll move on.

You claim that it was the April 19 phone call from Ms. Wernick who requisitioned your help in this program, but Ms. Wernick has testified that on April 19 she didn't even know the details of the program itself. It wasn't until two days later when your proposal and the Prime Minister's simultaneous announcement of it were broadcast that she even found out the details. How is it that she would have asked you to run a program that she didn't even have the details of at the time?

5 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger

She had a number of key details, sir.

At that point, she said it was 20,000 youth. That changed, increasing to 100,000. She knew that it would be over the summer. At the one point, though, it could have been for the summer or for the full year. She knew that it had to be launched immediately—although that time was then shifted.

The point I'm trying to make, sir, is that the broad outline of it—a paid summer service program for youth—she was aware of. She knew the final numbers, the date, and the payment amounts. All those details on policy objectives were decided by other people in government.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Your testimony contradicts hers, because she says that she didn't have the details—

5 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger

Mr. Chair, could I answer the question.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

—and she also says that she did not say that she asked you to run the program. She said that she called to ask for your input and then it wasn't until three days later when the Prime Minister made an announcement and you very conveniently had a proposal ready that, at that point, you became the service delivery organization. Why the contradiction?

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Mr. Kielburger, you can finish your previous answer and conclude on this one.

5 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger

I'll just jump straight ahead at this point, sir. I will happily submit to you the April 22 email from me to Ms. Wernick that says “as per your request”. “As per your request”, sir, were the key words that indicated we were sending the proposal as per her request.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Those were the words you wrote. Very crafty, well done.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Your last question, Mr. Poilievre.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Have you or anyone acting on your behalf, including a law firm, ever hired private investigators who may have looked into media personalities like Mr. Jesse Brown or reporter Jaren Kerr?

5 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger

Sir, if I may say with all due respect you are reaching to the bottom of the barrel if Jesse Brown is now whom you are quoting, to—

5 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

I asked you a question and you're not answering it.

5 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger

I can answer it very clearly, sir. There was a public exchange between Jesse Brown and the lawyer—

5 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

You're not answering it.

5 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger

Sir, I am.

Mr. Chair, I am going to answer very clearly with two points. Number one, there's a public exchange on Mr. Brown's—

5 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Did your law firm to hire a private investigator to look into it. We'll just call you back if you don't answer.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Mr. Poilievre, your questions are done. Mr. Kielburger has the right to respond and we will conclude with Ms. Koutrakis, I believe.

Mr. Kielburger.

5 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger

Sir, we will happy submit to you the Twitter exchange between the lawyer who was involved in the matter and Jesse Brown. It's on Jesse's Brown's Twitter. It answers the question decisively.

Sir, frankly, we've answered your questions.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

What's your point of order?

5 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

The Standing Orders clearly state that witnesses are required to answer the questions put by members or risk being found in contempt. The question was, yes or no, whether the witnesses' law firm hired a private investigator to look into Jesse Brown and Jaren Kerr. The witness then referred to a Twitter exchange. I'm not interested in looking at Twitter; I'm looking for an answer.

So yes or no, did your law firm hire a private investigator to look into these reporters? Yes or no?

5 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

Sir, we've been here for four hours and now you're threatening us. We just feel that this is not appropriate. There is a very clear public record on this.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Yes or no?

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

We will go to Ms. Koutrakis for a final question.

Ms. Koutrakis.

5 p.m.

Liberal

Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

For the record, I want to correct something that Mr. Kielburger said earlier, calling this a sole-source contract, when in fact it's not. It's a contribution agreement.