Thank you for having me today. I was advised in advance of this meeting that I needed opening remarks; however, I will be brief.
My name's John Knubley, and I am a former deputy minister of industry in ISED. I served in that role from 2012-19. Of course, I'm speaking as an individual today, not as a representative of a department or government. I will do my best to assist the committee, based on my recollection of the facts.
The Trudeau Foundation is an agency that was, and I believe continues to be, part of the ministry's broad portfolio of organizations. During my time, the responsibility of monitoring its activities fell to the science sector, or branch, in the department, and I believe it still does. I believe I was always briefed that the foundation was designed at the outset in 2001 to be an independent, stand-alone agency, consistent with the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act.
The board, therefore, has responsibility for oversight of its own operations, with a fiduciary responsibility. The science sector at ISED, or Industry, derived its mandate for monitoring the Trudeau Foundation from its role in supporting excellence in universities, scholars and research activities across the country.
I understand the committee has questions about a meeting of deputy ministers and Trudeau Foundation scholars at the Privy Council Office in 2016. What I recall—and this is based on my memory—is that I was invited to the meeting; however, I also remember that I chose not to attend as other priorities arose.
I look forward to your questions.