Debates of July 22nd, 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, we will continue to ensure that Canadians have the necessary programs and resources. The members opposite clearly have questions about the WE organization. They have to ask them—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Lévis—Lotbinière.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, coincidentally, the day the Prime Minister announced the volunteer grants, WE presented its plan to the government to distribute this money. This was a $900-million plan.

Can the government confirm whether this is true?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we have announced a number of programs for Canadian youth to ensure that students have the resources they need. We know that the pandemic has affected all Canadians, including students.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, did the WE organization and the Prime Minister work closely together to develop the volunteer grants program behind closed doors?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said on a number of occasions, the public service made a recommendation. It worked to ensure there was a plan to help students during this pandemic. We accepted its recommendation.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, was the Prime Minister aware of WE Charity's financial problems, yes or no?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the public service negotiated this contribution agreement with the WE organization.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, would the contract awarded to WE Charity have paid off most of its debts to its creditors?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it was a contribution agreement that was negotiated with the organization, and since the Standing Committee on Finance asked us to testify, we did. The public service also answered these questions.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, is it not true that the volunteer grant program was a way to return a favour in order to save WE Charity from its financial troubles?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the aim of the Canada student service grant was always to connect post-secondary students and recent graduates who want to support their communities' COVID-19 response.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what provision allowed the Prime Minister to avoid holding a public tendering process for such a big contract?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are in the midst of a pandemic that is affecting all Canadians. We worked with the public service, which we know works very hard. The public service received a project from our government, an idea, and made a recommendation.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when did the WE Charity contact the government or the Prime Minister to provide a draft of the Canada student service grant program?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the public service appeared before the Standing Committee on Finance and answered those questions.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, given all of the scandal surrounding the grant program, does the Prime Minister still think it is relevant?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we know that we need a range of programs to get through this pandemic. Canadians across the country have many needs. We will continue to respond to those needs.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, will it be up to the public service to roll out this program?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we know that those questions were asked yesterday before the Standing Committee on Finance. We will always work to ensure that our programs are there for Canadians.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that story seems very suspicious.

Why would the government give money to a shell corporation without any accountability to our government?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, members of the House and Canadians are asking for information. We want that information to be accessible to everyone and we will continue to answer questions. That is why we appeared in committee to answer questions. We know that the public service is working very hard, and we will continue to work with the public service for Canadians.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Saskatoon—Grasswood.

The website iwanttohelp.org is the platform set up for Canadians to apply for the Canada student service grant. When Canadians apply on iwanttohelp.org, is their information kept on Canadian servers?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for that question because it is an example of the type of question that was posed between my office and public servants to ensure, within the contribution agreement, that we always maintain the health, safety and security of Canadians. As we know, the contribution agreement is proactively disclosed and will be available for all.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I hope that answer will also include whether or not the information is on government servers.

With what the government is saying with respect to WE, it either has a deeply flawed decision-making process for billion dollar projects or it routinely allows billion-dollar conflicts of interest to simply slip by. Either possibility is troubling. My question is for the finance minister: Which is it?