He's a foundation member.
Evidence of meeting #69 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was foundation.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #69 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was foundation.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
He was a member of the foundation from 2018 until earlier this year.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
He left the foundation as a result of accepting the appointment as the special adviser to the Prime Minister.
4:30 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
I'm guessing that's the case—
4:35 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
It's important to understand what the role of the members is. The distinction—
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I don't need to know the roles. Thank you. I just wanted to confirm the relationship aspect.
At any point in time prior to the release of his first report to Canadians, did he reach out to you in person, by letter, email or what have you to discuss the circumstances surrounding the foreign interference issue pertaining to the foundation and the origins of the $140,000 cheque?
Was that discussed between the two of you?
4:35 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
No, I have received no such communication from him.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Did any member of his team reach out to you to discuss that, sir? He has a very vast firm, full of lawyers and consultants and what have you. Did anyone, to your knowledge, reach out to a foundation member—
4:35 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Not to the foundation. Not to my knowledge.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
You, personally, did not reach out to him to give your side of the story. Is that correct?
4:35 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
That's correct.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Okay.
I understand that Ms. Fournier had some issues with respect to the donation that ultimately led to her resignation. She discovered that the Millennium Golden Eagle International (Canada) Inc. was, in fact, associated with Beijing's China Cultural Industry Association. She also found out that the industry association was communicating with Trudeau Foundation employees about admitting information on a donation tax receipt.
The website of that China Cultural Industry Association says it adheres to the “total leadership” of the China Communist Party and was formed with state approval. It lists Mr. Zhang Bin as its president. As per that association, Millennium Golden Eagle International (Canada) has Bin Zhang as the chairman, and it was created with the approval of Beijing, China.
Knowing what I know now, and what Pascale Fournier knew, about Millennium Golden Eagle, do you agree, sir, given your vast knowledge of corporate law, of corporations in general and of general governance, etc....? Would you agree with me, sir, that Millennium Golden Eagle International is, in fact, a shell company operated by Beijing, China?
4:35 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
I have no knowledge of any facts that would support that.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Would you agree with me, sir, that they proudly and publicly take their marching orders from the government in Beijing?
4:35 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Again, I'd have to say the same thing. I'm afraid I have no knowledge of what their relationship might be with their government.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Were you aware that Zhang Bin, one of the donors, was a political adviser to the communist regime based in Beijing?
4:35 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
I've read that, yes.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Today...?
4:35 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Yes. I read about it a while ago. I can't say when.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
No, not to me. I must say—
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I'm having a really hard time understanding why Beijing is communicating directly with the foundation—not Zhang Bin, not Mr. Gensheng and not Millennium Golden Eagle situated in Canada, but Beijing—giving instructions to the foundation about how the donation receipt should be titled and where it should go. You, as the chairman of the board, just surprisingly had no knowledge of this.