Conservatives Call on Trudeau Foundation to Ban Foreign Donations After Tenfold Increase in Three Years
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T A2 nationalpost.com NEWS NATIONAL POST, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2016 SUBSCRIBE EMAIL [email protected] PAULA FESTAS, CHIEF REVENUE OffICER [email protected] VISIT NATIONALPOST.COM/SUBSCRIPTION CALL 1.800.668.7678 TORONTO AREA SALES OFFIce EMAIL [email protected] AVID ATTERSBY IRECTOR EDIA ALES ORONTO CALL 416.386.2662 D B , D , M S , T [email protected] UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS START A NEW PRINT OR WESTERN CANADA SALES OFFIce OR PAYMENT METHOD LORI-ANNE HILL, DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION CALL 604.739.8111 [email protected] NQUIRE ABOUT PAUSE DELIVERY I QUEBec & EASTERN CANADA SALES OFFIce CALL 514.987.2350 YOUR SUBSCRIPTION DURING YOUR VACATION KATHERINE DOVER, MANAGER, FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS [email protected] SANDRA ZINGARO, DIRECTOR, MARKETING [email protected] NEWS TIPS For our privacy commitment to our readers, 416.386.2600 go to www.nationalpost.com/privacy DONATION DEMAND CONSERVATIVES CALL ON TRUDEAU FOUNDATION TO BAN FOREIGN DONATIONS AFTER TENFOLD INCREASE IN THREE YEARS Z AN E S C H W ART Z he federal Con- servatives are call- ing on the Trudeau Foundation to stop Taccepting foreign donations after a National Post analysis showed foreign donations increased tenfold since Jus- tin Trudeau won the Liberal leadership. “I think if the Prime Min- ister had the wisdom that I hope he does have, that he would tell his family foun- dation to stop taking the foreign donations until Can- adians can be assured that there’s no dirty dealings hap- pening,” said Conservative house leader Candice Bergen. Last week the National Post reported that about forty per cent of 108 donors, directors and members of the foundation since 2014 — or one in six when not count- ing academic institutions — have affiliations with organ- izations that currently lobby the federal government. JONATHAN HAYWARD / THE CANADIAN PRESS Overall donations have in- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won the Liberal leadership on April 14, 2013 and he withdrew from the Trudeau Foundation on Dec. 10, 2014. creased fourfold since Tru- deau won the Liberal leader- she would question Tru- tion because she believes ne- Comtois said the founda- able to Trudeau Foundation Morris Rosenberg empha- ship in April 2013. deau about some cash-for- gotiations around it began tion received a letter from conference sponsors, includ- sized that the majority of The Trudeau Foundation access events, but would not after Trudeau ceased his in- Trudeau formally with- ing a section labelled “Net- foreign donations came from says that the “vast major- ask him about the Trudeau volvement with the founda- drawing from the founda- working opportunities.” the McCall MacBain Founda- ity” of the foreign donations Foundation. tion. tion in December 2014 — A donation of $50,000 or tion. were made by Canadian cit- “In relation to the dona- “Information in the pub- three months after Dawson more entitled a sponsor to The foundation does not izens living abroad. As the tion to the Trudeau Foun- lic domain indicates that said she believes he was hold a private event for as count the $200,000 dona- Post reported, the majority dation, at this time I have the terms of the donation no longer involved with its many as 25 people, includ- tion from Chinese nationals of foreign-donated funds found no evidence that Mr. to the Trudeau Foundation operations, and 11 months ing “key members of the Bin Zhang and Niu Gens- came from the Switzerland- Bin (Zhang) has dealings were negotiated between after the foundation was first Trudeau Foundation Soci- heng as a foreign donation based McCall MacBain with or is seeking funding September 2014 and spring informed of the potential do- ety.” Justin Trudeau is listed since it was made by a com- Foundation, founded by from the Government of 2016, after Mr. Trudeau’s in- nation. as one of the members with pany registered in Canada. Marcy McCall MacBain and Canada or that Mr. Trudeau volvement with the Founda- “As the Prime Minister whom donors could poten- Rosenberg also pointed to her husband John McCall had any involvement in so- tion had ended. I will there- has said before, following tially hold a private event. Dawson’s decision not to in- MacBain, a Canadian and liciting the funds from Mr. fore not be looking further his election as Leader of the Google eventually gave clude the Trudeau Founda- the Trudeau Foundation’s Bin (Zhang),” wrote Dawson. into the matter at this time,” Liberal Party, he withdrew US$25,000 to the foundation tion in her questioning of the chair and the 75th richest Bin Zhang is a Commun- wrote Dawson. his involvement in the affairs to sponsor their 2015 con- Prime Minister. person in Canada according ist Party official who helps Trudeau Foundation exec- of the Foundation for the ference. While the meeting However, NDP ethics crit- to Canadian Business maga- spread Chinese influence as utive director Élise Comtois duration of his involvement with Zhang and Gensheng ic Alexandre Boulerice wants zine. The McCall MacBains president of the China Culture told the National Post that in federal politics,” said Tru- also took place in September Trudeau to talk to Dawson have donated more than Industry Association, a group while the foundation first deau spokesperson Cameron 2014, Comtois says they were about the foundation. $25,000 to the Liberal party that is supervised by the Min- met with Bin Zhang and his Ahmad. not sent the same package. “For a Prime Minister over the past decade. istry of Culture and tasked partner Niu Gensheng in Trudeau won the Liberal Two months after the who prides himself on high The donation that has re- with building international September 2014, the Univer- leadership on April 14, 2013. foundation was first con- ethical standards and trans- ceived the most attention is ties for Beijing. Other mem- sity of Montreal first told the He withdrew from the foun- tacted about Zhang’s dona- parency, he should have no from Chinese national Bin bers of the group include sen- foundation of the potential dation over a year and a half tion, on March 10, 2014, Tru- problem talking with the Zhang, who, along with a ior leaders from the navy, the donation in January 2014. later, on Dec. 10, 2014. deau participated by phone ethics commissioner about partner, made a $200,000 army, and China’s ruling Com- Zhang and Gensheng Asked whether the Prime in a foundation meeting that donation,” said Bouler- gift to the Trudeau Founda- munist Party. eventually decided to donate Minister would talk to the where members voted on ice. tion after he attended a cash- Zhang’s $200,000 dona- $200,000 to the Trudeau ethics commissioner about transitioning from Part II of Asked why Dawson said for-access fundraiser with tion will fund conferences Foundation and $800,000 the foundation or ask the the Canada Corporations Act Trudeau wasn’t involved in Justin Trudeau in May 2016. and events. “It is expected to the University of Montreal foundation to limit dona- to the Canada Not-For-Profit the foundation in September Interim Conservative that many of these events with the parties signing the tions, Ahmad said: “The Corporations Act, accord- 2014 when he didn’t with- leader Rona Ambrose asked will explore the evolving role donation agreement on June Prime Minister has no in- ing to Comtois. Prior to that, draw until December 2014, ethics commissioner Mary of China in the world and 1, 2016. The donation to the volvement with the Trudeau he called in to meetings on ethics commissioner spokes- Dawson to look into that do- Canada-China relations,” ac- university is divided into two Foundation.” March 21, 2013, and Nov. 18, person Jocelyne Brisebois nation to determine whether cording to an Aug. 17 post on parts: $750,000 for scholar- An email sent by Comtois 2010. said Dawson is “looking into Trudeau had broken the law. the foundation’s website. ships for law students and on Sept. 4, 2014, soliciting a In a letter responding to the matter.” Last Tuesday, Dawson wrote Dawson said she doesn’t $50,000 for a statue of Pierre donation from Google, listed the Post’s initial report, Tru- National Post a letter to Ambrose saying need to look into the dona- Elliott Trudeau. the potential benefits avail- deau Foundation president Twitter: zaneschwartz With the merger of CCI Group Inc.,anational building science firm, and McIntosh Perry Consulting Engineers,aleading civil engineering firm, the new McIntosh Perry has you covered at every angle, from the vertical -buildings and structures, to the horizontal -roads and bridges. 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