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.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Did the Kielburgers or the management of WE tell the board that was why they were laying off people in March?
Former Chair of the Board of Directors, WE Charity, As an Individual
Essentially that was a reduced essence of why people were being laid off, yes.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
So the Kielburgers suggested that they were having financial hardship at the time.
Former Chair of the Board of Directors, WE Charity, As an Individual
I wouldn't characterize it as financial hardship, but I think they were looking to the future implications of sponsorship, and they were talking to sponsors at the time, but I don't believe they referred to the organization as being in a financial hardship or vulnerable situation.
Conservative
Former Chair of the Board of Directors, WE Charity, As an Individual
Well, I objected to the layoffs not as a general matter. Perhaps they were necessary. I objected to the fact that they were being done without the full consultation of the board and without our being provided detailed information that would confirm that it was absolutely necessary to proceed in that way. I accepted what they were saying, but we needed to see the information.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Right.
Did anyone on the board during your time there ever express any concern about WE Charity's payment to other non-arm's-length entities like ME to WE, any numbered companies or any other organizations that were contracted or subcontracted by WE Charity?
Former Chair of the Board of Directors, WE Charity, As an Individual
Well, the board of directors of WE Charity was quite seized with the issue of looking at transfers to related entities, particularly ME to WE. We required an annual reconciliation report to the board on those transfers. I think we were interested in getting as much information as we could about those transfers, and in this regard, we always invited the executive director of ME to WE to an annual meeting of the WE Charity to kind of provide us with an update and help us understand the reconciliation of funds between the two organizations.
Conservative
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
—concerns about those transactions between WE Charity and ME to WE?
Former Chair of the Board of Directors, WE Charity, As an Individual
I don't think explicit concerns were expressed, but rather requests for enhanced information; that's the way I would put it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Thank you, both.
We turn now to Ms. Koutrakis, followed by Mr. Fortin.
Liberal
Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to advise you that I will be sharing my time with MP Dzerowicz. Could you please stop me at minute four?
Liberal
Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC
Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Douglas, for appearing before the committee today. Thank you for your past service and for your continued activism for Canadians at large.
As you stated, you resigned from your position as chair of the board on March 27. While it appears as though the conversation between the federal government and WE Charity on the administration of the CSSG, the Canada student service grant, began on April 7, when Minister Morneau contacted WE as well as a number of other organizations to get their thoughts on the student volunteer program, were you at all aware of the Canada student service grant or similar programs proposed by WE Charity?
Former Chair of the Board of Directors, WE Charity, As an Individual
I was not.
Liberal
Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC
While you were in the position as chair of the board, were you aware of any intention by WE Charity to submit a proposal to the federal government?
Former Chair of the Board of Directors, WE Charity, As an Individual
Could you clarify the time period? I was there for a long time. Was it any general submission or specifically regarding the Canada student service—
Former Chair of the Board of Directors, WE Charity, As an Individual
Grant applications were made to the federal government by WE Charity. I was certainly aware of some of them, but I had no knowledge of their intentions around what became the Canada student service grant program.
Liberal
Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC
Were you aware that there would be a contribution agreement signed between WE and the government at all? Had you heard anything while you were still chair of the board?
Former Chair of the Board of Directors, WE Charity, As an Individual
I had not heard anything about that information or program. I knew nothing about it.
Liberal
Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC
Okay. Thank you for that.
One of the concerns raised in the past has been the idea that a new board of directors may not be best positioned to guide WE Charity in its administration of a program like the Canada student service grant. Would you be able to comment on any policies in place at WE Charity that would ensure the smooth transition of board members?