Evidence of meeting #70 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 rosenberg.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
—in and around that time frame regarding this allegation?
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Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
I asked her, but I certainly didn't deny what she was saying.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Okay.
Do you deny that the foundation, including several board members, pressured this plaintiff into signing a non-disclosure agreement, not once but on two occasions?
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
I can't speak to that, because I believe those things happened after I left the foundation.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Okay.
During the time when you were the president of the foundation—because you signed the agreement between this particular plaintiff and the mentor—I understand that there was no sexual harassment policy in place at the foundation. Is that correct?
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
That's correct. There were no sexual harassment policies in a lot of organizations. As we started to learn more—
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Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
With all due respect, I'm talking about the Trudeau Foundation—
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
On a point of order, Chair, this is outside the scope of this study. I think it's very inappropriate for this line of questioning to continue. This is not a courtroom. This is a committee, and I believe it's entirely inappropriate—
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
He's asking about sexual harassment.
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Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Mr. Genuis, thank you.
Ms. Shanahan, the questions are being asked forcibly but respectfully. Mr. Rosenberg is answering them. I'm going continue to allow Mr. Brock his line of questioning. As you know, I give members latitude to ask questions, provided they are respectful.
Mr. Brock, you have the floor again.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Before I was interrupted, sir, on a point of order that was not really a point of order, I asked you about focusing your responses on the foundation.
Now, you signed the agreement. There was no sexual harassment policy for the scholar and no sexual harassment policy for the mentor. Is that correct?
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Do you acknowledge that the foundation is doing everything within its legal mandate to block this case from being heard? It was originally brought in British Columbia; then it was brought to Newfoundland, where the allegations allegedly are to have occurred, and now the foundation is suggesting that this be litigated in the province of Quebec. Do you acknowledge that the foundation is doing that to her as well?
11:45 a.m.
As an Individual
I have not worked for the foundation since 2018, and I'm not familiar with all the strategies the foundation is using.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Are you not familiar with the news stories that are coming out with respect to these allegations, sir? Have you not been privy to that?