Finance Committee on Aug. 12th, 2020

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Excuse me. My apologies, Monsieur Fortin. I'm just putting on the interpretation.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

It's no problem.

You told us that the contract for the student grants had been approved by all ministers around the table.

I would like to know if you knew at that time that the contract was not with WE Charity, but rather with the WE foundation.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

No, Mr. Fortin, I did not. We had approved the recommendation put forward to cabinet by my colleague minister and understood that it would be WE Charity that would deliver this program.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

So, if I understand correctly...

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Not to interrupt you, Mr. Fortin, but I skipped Mr. Fraser, so we'll let you finish your round and then go back to Mr. Fraser.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Okay.

If I understand correctly, Madam Minister, you never approved a contract between the federal government and the WE foundation. You never agreed to that.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

We approved as a cabinet the Canada student service grant. It was a policy approval, a cabinet approval. That's what we approved. We understood how important it was to make sure we had a program that was going to give our young people the opportunity to provide service in communities across the country, and that's what we approved.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Excuse me, I do not wish to be impolite, but we only have so much time.

I understand that you approved the establishment of a grant program, but I am talking about the agreement between the federal government and the WE Charity Foundation of Canada. As I understand it, you never approved it.

Is that correct?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Well, as a cabinet, we do approve the program. The details on the implementation are done by the public service.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I am talking about that contract.

You approved the contract with WE Charity, but did you approve the contract with the WE foundation?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

We approved the Canada student service grant—

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I understand that.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

—but it is the civil service that would take the direction of cabinet and then work through the implementation.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I am sorry, Madam Minister, but that's not my question.

I understand your testimony, and I am not trying to put you on the spot. I am asking you a very simple question: I have a contract here between the federal government and the WE Charity Foundation of Canada.

Did you approve this agreement?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Fortin, in cabinet we take decisions that approve the expenditure and the program—

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

That's not my question, Madam Minister.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

—and it is the responsibility of the civil service to then subsequently execute the direction of cabinet.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Okay, but that does not answer my question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

If I could, I'll intervene here for a minute, Mr. Fortin.

Madam Minister, we've had this discussion before. What Mr. Fortin is getting at is that there is quite a distinction between WE Charity and the WE Charity Foundation. I think his question relates to what your knowledge was of the WE Charity Foundation.

We'll go over to you, Mr. Fortin.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Perhaps the interpretation is unclear, but I just want to make sure we understand each other, Madam Minister.

I understand that you approved the student grant program. I understand that, in your mind, you were entrusting WE Charity with the program. However, I am telling you that the contract was given to the WE foundation, which is another company.

Did you, personally, approve this contract between the federal government and the WE Charity Foundation of Canada?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Fortin, thank you for that clarification. I don't recall the specifics.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Do you recall if anyone else in cabinet approved the agreement with the WE Charity Foundation of Canada?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I wouldn't have that knowledge, Monsieur Fortin.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

All right.

Were you present at the cabinet meeting on May 8?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I apologize. The translation didn't come through for the question. Would you mind repeating it?