QUESTION PERIOD — Foreign Affairs
Foreign Influence in Canadian Elections
March 22, 2023
Leader, according to The Globe and Mail, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS, learned that a wealthy political adviser to the Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, in Beijing was instructed to donate to the Trudeau Foundation and that the communist regime would reimburse the entire amount of that donation.
Following this report, the Trudeau Foundation returned a $200,000 gift it received in 2016, leader. The foundation’s president and CEO stated, “. . . ethics and integrity are among our core values . . . .” Integrity is important to them, but not until seven years after the fact, leader? The Prime Minister must have known the truth behind this $200,000 gift — not a small gift.
His government appoints two seats on the foundation’s board, and his family appoints two seats. This is confirmed in the Trudeau Foundation annual reports and by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Leader, how can the Trudeau government say there is no link between Prime Minister Trudeau and the Trudeau Foundation? No one believes that this is credible, leader. How can your government say this and expect Canadians to believe this and have confidence in him?
Thank you for your question.
Part of the preamble to your question was a quote that the Prime Minister “must have known” of the origins of the deal behind this gift, and that is an assumption you’re making and, frankly, somewhat of a smear because you don’t know what the Prime Minister was told or knew.
Indeed, as soon as the report became public, the Trudeau Foundation did the right thing and returned it. That’s what Canadians know and should understand.
As the Prime Minister has said, the minute that he took office — if not, indeed, immediately before that, but certainly since the time he’s been Prime Minister, if not before — he removed himself from any involvement with the foundation. A foundation which, I should add, has done and does important work supporting and mentoring students.
Chinese interference in our elections is an important issue. I know it is the topic that the opposition in the House and here is prosecuting vigorously. That is your right to do. That is how you see your role, and I respect your right to play that role.
However, the fact is that the attempt to focus attention on the serious issue that the government is dealing with in a serious way — to draw everything into the Laurentian elite and the Trudeau Foundation, and that the government or the Prime Minister must have known — does a disservice to the seriousness of this issue and, in my opinion, a disservice to this chamber.
Well, you are right, leader, it is our right to ask these questions.
You know what else is our right, leader? A right to have the answers, as it is the right of all Canadians to have the answers.
If this Prime Minister would, for once, be honest with Canadians and tell us the answers, we would be able to stop asking these questions.
You say the Trudeau Foundation does great work. Nobody is suggesting it doesn’t. But that does not give them the right to accept illegal donations, no matter how much good work they do.
You say I insinuated. You clearly made an insinuation: Don’t talk to us or ask me questions about a questionable donation because the foundation is doing good work. How can you put those two together, leader?
As I said yesterday, the Prime Minister shouldn’t have any say, leader; he should have no say in how Beijing’s interference is being investigated. He could just tell Canadians what he knew and when he knew it. But he won’t. Why? Because he was the prime beneficiary.
Instead of a full and truly independent public inquiry, Prime Minister Trudeau named a long-time family friend, a skiing buddy and a member of the Trudeau Foundation to produce a report months from now, leader. This is designed by the Prime Minister to, again, distract and buy time, and he makes a mockery of accountability.
Leader, how was the former Governor General appointed to the Trudeau Foundation in 2018? Was he recommended by the Minister of Innovation, who is, of course, a member of Prime Minister Trudeau’s cabinet? Or was he appointed by Prime Minister Trudeau’s family?
Well, no one could ever accuse you, honourable colleague, of not doubling down, despite my response.
You mischaracterized and misdescribed my answer completely with regard to the Trudeau Foundation. The record will show that and I won’t repeat what I said.
You are now continuing to focus, not on the steps that the government is taking to investigate — properly and responsibly — the allegations of interference, but now, as your leader and others have done, to impugn the impartiality and, indeed, the integrity of the Governor General appointed by Stephen Harper — to Stephen Harper’s honour — and who served this country admirably.
In an effort to appeal to those for whom both the Prime Minister and the Laurentian elite — and anybody who happens to be friendly — as somehow on the wrong side of integrity or the best interests of Canada is, once again, a disservice to this chamber and to the importance of this debate.
