Information & Ethics committee  I would say, sir, once again, that the $912 million you referenced was a mistake in the communications background. It is still $900 million. No WE proposal was approved by the Prime Minister or the Minister of Finance at that point. With respect to why there are no other organiz

Information & Ethics committee  That is probably not something that would be in the guiding Gs and Cs policies. That would be something to probably ask whoever put the contribution agreement together.

Information & Ethics committee  Is that for me, sir?

Information & Ethics committee  All right. Starting from the top, I was only made aware of Mr. Kielburger's email to the minister when all the emails were revealed as part of our commitment to the Standing Committee on Finance. In terms of when the proposal was approved, I would remind committee members that

Information & Ethics committee  That's all I can speak to.

Information & Ethics committee  Let me correct the record. The Minister of Finance verbally approved what I just mentioned, the $900-million set-aside and the direction for the ESDC minister return. He did not approve anything related to WE, and neither did the Prime Minister at this juncture. This paper that

Information & Ethics committee  There are two things there. I certainly did not characterize Minister Morneau's relationship with the Kielburgers as “besties”. I'm happy to speak to that email, if you like, but that is absolutely not what I said. Again, I iterate that Minister Morneau and the Prime Minister,

Information & Ethics committee  Thanks for the question. I should be clear that the Department of Finance and I certainly had nothing to do with the actual contribution agreement. We have something to do with the funding decision up front—a $900-million provision—for which the ESDC minister had to return to th

Information & Ethics committee  I can't speculate and speak for other departments and their experiences, but I can tell you that in normal times—and even in COVID times—when elucidating a new program or a new policy, it is very normal that there are a number of perspectives brought into consideration. That incl

Information & Ethics committee  I can't speculate on other governments, but certainly the actions that I and my team would have taken in terms of considerations, policy, a financing decision, what makes sense, what the needs of Canadians are, whether there is a vehicle to deliver it and how much it would cost w

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you for your question. I'm sorry, but I'll answer it in English.

Information & Ethics committee  With respect to whether I provided any advice with respect to lobbying to my minister, the answer is no. I believe it is the public office holder's duty to address that and not my duty. Also, with respect to anything else relating to lobbying, again, it is the public office holde

Information & Ethics committee  First, that was absolutely not and continues not to be at all anybody's thinking with respect to pandemic spending. The “money meh” comment you mentioned was literally—my emails are all public, and you know I'm very casual and colloquial in my speech—a joke between peers. I migh

Information & Ethics committee  Good afternoon. My name is Michelle Kovacevic. I am the ADM of federal-provincial relations and social policy at Finance Canada. I don't have opening remarks. I testified on WE Charity in July before the Standing Committee on Finance. My opening remarks from that testimony, an

Finance committee  Thank you.