Finance Committee on July 28th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

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

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

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

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

—and they can—

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

You need to explain how this thing—

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Charlie, order.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

—that you created—

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Order.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

—was set up.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Order, Mr. Angus.

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

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

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

[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?”

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

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

[Marc Kielburger]

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

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

But I'm looking at the form that you—

[Marc Kielburger]

We're seeking—

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

It's not incorrect.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Mr. Angus, come on.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

It's not incorrect.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Mr. Angus—

[Marc Kielburger]

Mr. Chair, the purpose was to help limit liability. There were multitudes of purposes for this entity. The primary purpose was to limit—

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

It was to maintain your facilities. That's real estate.

[Marc Kielburger]

Mr. Chair, may I finish?

It was to limit liability.

[Craig Kielburger]

It was formally recognized in June for the very purpose; as we created this partnership with the government, it was amended in its structure—

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Amended: yes, it was amended, you're correct.