Evidence of meeting #51 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was youth.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Dalal Al-Waheidi  Executive Director, WE Charity
Scott Baker  Chief Operations Officer, WE Charity
Sofia Marquez  Former Staff Member, Government and Stakeholder Relations, WE Charity, As an Individual
John-Frederick Cameron  Chief Executive Officer, Katimavik

3:25 p.m.

Executive Director, WE Charity

Dalal Al-Waheidi

No. Thank you. You did a really good job at pronouncing my name. I appreciate it.

WE started working in Montreal in 2007—

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

When did the office open?

3:25 p.m.

Executive Director, WE Charity

Dalal Al-Waheidi

It was at some time between 2007 and 2008. I don't have the exact date in front of me, but I have the year. I'm happy to provide this information.

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Okay.

Are you aware that this office is closed right now, as we speak?

3:25 p.m.

Executive Director, WE Charity

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Mrs. Al-Waheidi, are you aware that your office on Saint-Hubert Street in Montreal is closed as we speak?

3:25 p.m.

Executive Director, WE Charity

Dalal Al-Waheidi

As part of our activities, because of the pandemic, at this point all of the staff are working from home.

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Mrs. Al-Waheidi, your office is closed, the lease has been terminated and Hydro-Québec was going to disconnect the power this week. There hasn't been anybody there for a few months. Did you know that?

3:25 p.m.

Executive Director, WE Charity

Dalal Al-Waheidi

Mr. Chair, I'm trying to answer the question. When the pandemic hit, because of the safety of our team we decided to make the decision that they needed to work from home. Like many other charities and many other organizations, we made this decision.

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

All right.

How many employees does the WE Charity Foundation have in Montreal?

3:25 p.m.

Chief Operations Officer, WE Charity

Scott Baker

The WE Charity Foundation does not have any employees anywhere in Canada.

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Thank you, Mr. Baker.

How many employees does WE Charity have in Montreal?

3:25 p.m.

Executive Director, WE Charity

Dalal Al-Waheidi

We'll have to [Technical difficulty—Editor]

3:25 p.m.

Chief Operations Officer, WE Charity

Scott Baker

We don't have this information readily in front of us at this point. We're happy to take this away and provide that number.

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

In all of Quebec, how many employees work for WE Charity or any related corporation or entity?

3:25 p.m.

Chief Operations Officer, WE Charity

Scott Baker

What I can share is that throughout our history as an organization we've often had 12 to 15.

As a result of the pandemic, we have had to realize that decrease that includes our offices in Vancouver and Montreal—

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

I'm sorry to interrupt you, Mr. Baker, but we don't have a lot of time. Could you name one Quebec employee who works for WE Charity?

3:25 p.m.

Executive Director, WE Charity

Dalal Al-Waheidi

Yes, we can. We have many employees. We've had their presence. The number is...this is full-time employees, but we also hire contractors, so I believe, Mr. Chair, that we've answered the question.

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Could you send us a list of the names and contact information of the employees of WE Charity or any other related entity working in Quebec?

3:25 p.m.

Executive Director, WE Charity

Dalal Al-Waheidi

We will need to check with our HR department because we're sharing private information of employees. We are happy to provide you with the number of employees, but we need to check with HR.

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Thank you.

Mrs. Marquez, are you registered with the federal government's registry of lobbyists?

3:25 p.m.

Former Staff Member, Government and Stakeholder Relations, WE Charity, As an Individual

Sofia Marquez

No, I have not.

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Why? Haven't you ever felt the need to do so?

3:25 p.m.

Former Staff Member, Government and Stakeholder Relations, WE Charity, As an Individual

Sofia Marquez

I understood that I was not the person responsible for the compliance of the act at WE Charity.

3:30 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Wasn't your job specifically to maintain relations with the federal government, among others, and other governments?