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.
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
The Prime Minister's brother testified, I think, that he and the Prime Minister did not talk about politics, so I don't think he was aware either. It was—
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
If I remember rightly, he was aware of their attendance—at least he was when he testified.
You're sort of unwilling to commit one way or the other about whether the fact that these donors attended a cash-for-access fundraiser right before they gave this money.... You're sort of unwilling to commit on whether that would have given you pause or...?
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
Well, look, we didn't know at the time. If somebody had told me that that had happened, I think it would have given me some pause. We certainly would have done further investigation. I'm not saying it would have scuttled the whole thing.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Knowing what you know now, it does look like this was oriented towards trying to have an influence. Is that correct?
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
I'm sorry. I'm not going to agree with you on that, and I'll tell you why—
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
They attend this fundraiser and then they give the donation shortly afterwards.
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
—because this donation had been negotiated long before this fundraiser.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
It was ready to be announced in September 2015. It wasn't, because of a technical issue with the University of Montreal part of this, so I—
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
There are just a lot of technical issues and convenience, aren't there, like the shortage of boardrooms in Blackburn, like it just so happened he was at this fundraiser before and it was a convenient time to finalize the donation afterwards? I don't think this is remotely credible.
In the time I have left, I want to go back to Mr. Knubley.
I was interested in the fact that you went from being a deputy minister to working for McKinsey, so I want to ask if there was a cooling-off period between your time in government and your time with McKinsey, and also if McKinsey has ever done work for the Trudeau Foundation.
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
Sorry, on the latter point, I have no idea. I have no knowledge of what McKinsey has done with the Trudeau Foundation, and it's inappropriate to speak of clients.
I think I'll start with a statement that I've followed with since leaving government—
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I'm sorry. It would be appropriate to speak of it, since you've been asked in a parliamentary committee. If you don't know, you don't know, but you do need to answer the question if you do.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
Then I was about to say that I followed all of the governing rules related to the Lobbying Act and the Federal Accountability Act, as required, in all my consulting activities. I joined McKinsey as a senior adviser in September 2020, which was more than one year after I left government in 2019. That is a requirement. I cannot—
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Did you advise them on how to get business with the Government of Canada, sir?
1 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
That is your time, I'm afraid.
I'm turning now to our last questioner.
1 p.m.
As an Individual
No, I did not, and I want to say that I spent 5% of my consulting time working with McKinsey and—
1 p.m.
Conservative
1 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Mr. Knubley, we've moved on now. Thank you very much.
Ms. Yip has the floor for five minutes.
Thank you.
1 p.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Knubley, if you want to finish your sentence, please go ahead.
1 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes, I just want to say two things.
One is that in my consulting work as a senior adviser, about 5% of my work time was with McKinsey, and I left because there was no work.
1 p.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you. I would now like to turn back to what we are studying.
Mr. Rosenberg, we have heard from Edward Johnson about the governance measures in place at the foundation. Could you tell us the procedures in place during your time, and if there were any red flags raised by accountants or auditors regarding the donations?
1 p.m.
As an Individual
As far as I know, I think PricewaterhouseCoopers was the auditor of the foundation, and I don't recall there ever being a red flag about it.