Procedure and House Affairs committee  I can't tell you exactly what they did during the election period, but I can tell you the types of things that they do.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The American organization. It's a charitable organization. As far as I can tell, this American organization is the parent organization of Leadnow.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Good evening, everyone. Bonsoir, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. I will make my presentation in English, but I'll be happy to answer your questions in either language afterwards. Thank you very much for inviting me to join you this evening to contribute to your work in relation to Bill C-76.

Finance committee  —the fight against violence against women, and the fight against the death penalty.

Finance committee  I can't imagine that they would be addressing those issues at the same time that there would be a conduit of funds from the Middle East.

Finance committee  I've tried to look into that. The biggest example I can think of is the Oak Foundation. I've traced, I think, $20.2 million that's come to environmental groups from the Oak Foundation. What's interesting, though, is that of that, less than $3 million shows up in the U.S. tax returns.

Finance committee  No, I've seen no evidence of that. However, what I will say is this. A large chunk of the money, about $25 million, has come from the Tides Foundation. This is specifically for the anti-pipeline campaign. Also, of that $25 million, I can account for about half of it as coming from American foundations through Tides.

Finance committee  Yes, I think it's very clear what their motive is. They want to develop their renewable energy industry, and Alberta oil has become the poster child of the campaign against fossil fuels.

Finance committee  No. Well, it's to a much, much more limited extent, but I think at some point we should say.... I often get this question: is the Tides Foundation a vehicle for money from the Middle East? There are two things. One, I see no evidence of that, and two, I can't imagine that would be occurring, because the Tides Foundation is one of the biggest funders of a number of issues, such as, for instance, the fight against homophobia—

Finance committee  Those were not my words, sir.

Finance committee  Clarify your question. What do you want, Mr. Rankin?

Finance committee  Mr. Chairman, I'll respond very briefly. As I clearly said, I have seen no evidence of eco-terrorism or any sort of terrorist activity. What I have seen, quite apart from that point is that if environmentalist organizations can do this, then any organization can do this, which is to use a series of organizations to move money from a foundation to a non-profit, then back into a charitable foundation, etc.

Finance committee  You want a—

Finance committee  I would be glad to respond, Mr. Chairman, but it is not easy to give a short answer, if you want specific names. I would be glad to give you that information. I don't know how germane it is to your issue of terrorist financing, since the organizations that I would mention have absolutely nothing, as far as I know, to do with terrorist financing.

Finance committee  What I said was that I can see how charitable organizations could be used as a front. I can give you specific examples of the chain of transactions of money within the charitable sector, but I have not seen that used to fund terrorism. I would be glad to answer your question—