Information & Ethics committee  I’m afraid I don’t know the details of that. The department had worked with the charity on other occasions. They knew them well.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, I learned that recently.

Information & Ethics committee  No.

Information & Ethics committee  I only know that in conversations between ESDC officials and WE Charity people, it was determined, partly for administrative reasons, that the WE Charity Foundation was the best vehicle.

Information & Ethics committee  I don't know the details, but I understand that there are—

Information & Ethics committee  I have no specific information on that.

Information & Ethics committee  All I can say, Chair, is that the contribution agreement in this case was typical of relationships between a government department and an entity. They are guided by principles of audit and of due diligence with respect to the interest of the Crown. This contribution agreement wil

Information & Ethics committee  You're absolutely right about the government's responsibility to reassure Canadians about the reliability of things. I would simply say that there was an established relationship between WE Charity and the department. As I mentioned before, I don't know the specific reasons why t

Information & Ethics committee  I was generally aware, because the item had been removed from the cabinet agenda, that there was a desire for due diligence on the part of the Prime Minister's chief of staff and the Prime Minister, and that that would be undertaken between the two cabinet dates. I was not person

Information & Ethics committee  Well, those who did the follow-up, Chair, which is to say ESDC officials who had carriage of the file, and the Privy Council Office would have been monitoring that as well.

Information & Ethics committee  Well, the nature of our advice was when the item returned, the homework having been done by the officials, and the Prime Minister was again briefed prior to the cabinet meeting—

Information & Ethics committee  In my opinion, it was.

Information & Ethics committee  At that time, we did not know that information.

Information & Ethics committee  Well, I've indicated that the focus of that due diligence was on the ability of the organization to deliver the program—

Information & Ethics committee  —and in the interactions with the organization—