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

4:45 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger

All entities in the contract are 100% not-for-profit.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Mr. Kielburger, with respect, you're way off my question now. Nobody has ever questioned whether or not these are not-for-profit. You can make a hell of a lot money as an individual within a not-for-profit organization by paying it in salaries. I see here, in section 5.1—I do have the floor—that you can pay salaries and you don't even need to submit time sheets to prove that you did the work. That's explicitly stated in 5.1.

I asked you a very simple question, and you've still not answered it. Was there anything in this agreement that banned you or your brother from receiving a salary, yes or no?

4:45 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Mr. Kielburger, you said yes. Do you want to further expand?

4:45 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

Let me explain, sir—

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Yes or no.

4:45 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

We are not paid by any one of those organizations—

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

That wasn't my question. Yes or no.

4:45 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

By definition, we are not paid by any one of those organizations—

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Yes or no.

4:50 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

Sir, by definition, we are not paid by—

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Yes or no. That wasn't my question.

4:50 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

The WE Social Enterprises is legally distinct and very separate —

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

That wasn't my question—

July 28th, 2020 / 4:50 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

...From the ME to WE Foundation.

Mr. Chair, to answer your question—

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

There will be no answer to the question.

4:50 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

Mr. Chair, can I answer the question? This is a very serious topic, sir.

Mr. Chair, can I have 15 more seconds, please?

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

You can have three more seconds. It's my time. Get to it.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Go ahead, Marc.

4:50 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

Sir, we have sat through four hours, which is four times more than anyone for the SNC-Lavalin or the Duffy affair, as context, sir. What we're—

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

That's not true. That's factually wrong.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

We're getting off the topic. I know we're all getting a little tired—

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Can I get to my next question, Mr. Chair?

Mr. Chair, I'll go to my next question. He's had his response.

4:50 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Craig Kielburger

No, sir. Mr. Chair, that's an allegation—

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

We're going to have to invite you back if you don't want to answer the question. Let's bring him back for another four hours.