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FALSE STATEMENTS by Charlie Angus Regarding WE Charity

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FALSE STATEMENTS by Charlie Angus Regarding WE Charity 101 FALSE STATEMENTS by Charlie Angus regarding WE Charity Over the past nine months, Mr. Charlie Angus, MP for Timmins – James Bay, has repeatedly made false statements on Twitter, in the media and in Parliamentary committees all for his own political gain. Mr. Angus often hides behind “Parliamentary Privilege”, which means that he can make serious, unfounded allegations, without any legal recourse for those who are defamed. Due to the inflammatory nature of his statements, Mr. Angus’ allegations are regularly recycled by the media and amplified via social media with no regard for the truth. This has caused tremendous harm to WE Charity, its staff, and most importantly, the children who benefit from the charity’s programs. To correct the record, we have documented 101 false statements by Mr. Angus and provided the facts correcting each statement. It is our hope that Mr. Angus will consider these facts and choose his words more carefully moving forward. ISSUE: Falsely stating the value of the CSSG Program NUMBER OF FALSE STATEMENTS ON THIS TOPIC 27 FALSE/MISLEADING STATEMENT(S) FACTS “This happened on your watch, Minister, because you • The total value of the contribution agreement was brought this $900-million program to cabinet.” $543.5M, (see a copy of the agreement here) not (July 16, 2020, FINA) $900 million as Mr. Angus well knows, yet he has falsely stated this number dozens of times. “When we end up in a situation in the middle of a pandem- ic, in which $900 million is awarded to a group that has deep • The correct value of the contribution agreement has ties to the Trudeau family, the obvious question is why that been in the public domain since July 25, 2020, but did not raise flags in the Prime Minister’s Office.” Mr. Angus continues to misstate the value in a bid to (July 17, 2020, ETHI) sensationalize the matter. “The question of why we are here is really about the decision • In official communications, Mr. Angus reverts to to take $900 million and transfer it to a third-party organi- the correct number. For example, in his August 10, zation that has very close connections to the Trudeau family 2020, letter to the Commissioner of Lobbying, he and Mr. Morneau.” (July 22, 2020, FINA) twice states the accurate value: “If you look at the contracts leading up to the $543 million CSSG grant “How in God’s name is it a credible decision by the Govern- it would appear…” and “…to secure the $543 million ment of Canada to funnel nearly a billion dollars to a group contribution agreement to administer the Canada that’s very close to you and your family, and that’s very close Student Service Grant (CSSG).” to the Prime Minister and his family?” (July 22, 2020, FINA) • So, it is clear this is an intentional tactic by Mr. Angus “We’re talking about $900 million.” (July 22, 2020, FINA) to mislead Canadians. “...yet this is where the Kielburger brothers decide to funnel • WE’s role in the CSSG did not allow for any “profit” $900 million.” (July 28, FINA) (by definition, a charity cannot generate or earn prof- its) or financial gain for the organization whatsoever. “I am just someone concerned that nearly a billion dollars of emergency funding was privatized to the Kielburger group in • The theoretical maximum expense reimbursement to the middle of a pandemic. (July 30, 2020, Twitter) WE was $34.78M only if all 100,000 students engaged in the program. These costs were for all aspects of “Having run out of means to distract attention from @Justin- the program including its design, delivery, disburse- Trudeau’s billion-dollar Kielburger meltdown…” ment of grants, third-party costs, etc. This was not a (August 3, 2020, Twitter) set payment and only a maximum amount to reim- burse expenses. “This was the pivotal moment where the WE brothers be- come embedded with with (sic) liberal government in writing the $900mil deal.” (August 19, 2020, Twitter) “…a deal that was worth between 500 million and 900 million dollars…”(September 1, 2020, Charlie Angus Press Conference) “When we are investigation how a 900 million-dollar deal went off the rails…” (September 1, 2020, Charlie Angus Press Conference) “When that public office holder is the Prime Minister of the nation, and when we’re talking about a decision by key Lib- eral ministers to support what would have ended up being a $900-million plan to transfer money to this organization that has close financial ties...” (October 15, 2020 ETHI) FALSE/MISLEADING STATEMENT(S) FACTS (REPEATED FROM PAGE 1) “They were using the Prime Minister’s family to get this • The total value of the contribution agreement was $900-million contract…” (October 20, 2020, HOC) $543.5M, (see a copy of the agreement here) not $900 million as Mr. Angus well knows, yet he has “So that was our focus: How did this group, that is a sup- falsely stated this number dozens of times. posed charity for children, get such an inside track on a deal that was between $500 million and $912 million?” • The correct value of the contribution agreement has (November 9, 2020, ETHI) been in the public domain since July 25, 2020, but Mr. Angus continues to misstate the value in a bid to “This counts because, again, when we’re talking about gov- sensationalize the matter. ernment programs—especially in the nature of something close to a billion dollars that’s going to be handed out—we • In official communications, Mr. Angus reverts to need to know that the governance structure is sound and the correct number. For example, in his August 10, that this is an organization that can actually deliver. 2020, letter to the Commissioner of Lobbying, he (November 13, 2020, ETHI) twice states the accurate value: “If you look at the contracts leading up to the $543 million CSSG grant “from the full $912 million program that we are focused on.” it would appear…” and “…to secure the $543 million (November 13, 2020, ETHI) contribution agreement to administer the Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG).” “When our parliamentary committees, the finance and eth- ics committees, began looking at the questions around the • So, it is clear this is an intentional tactic by Mr. Angus WE and the granting of the $912 million...” to mislead Canadians. (November 27, 2020, ETHI) • WE’s role in the CSSG did not allow for any “profit” “One was the entrepreneurship program with Minister Bill (by definition, a charity cannot generate or earn prof- Morneau, which was $12 million, and the Canada student its) or financial gain for the organization whatsoever. service grant, eventually for $900 million.” (November 27, 2020, ETHI) • The theoretical maximum expense reimbursement to WE was $34.78M only if all 100,000 students engaged “…Minister Morneau had to resign his position because of in the program. These costs were for all aspects of his involvement in the $900 million WE scandal.” the program including its design, delivery, disburse- (December 16, 2020, Charlie Angus Press Conference) ment of grants, third-party costs, etc. This was not a set payment and only a maximum amount to reim- “…Bill Morneau responding to his friends at the Kielburger burse expenses. organization with a $12 million contract plus the $900 million dollars.” (December 16, 2020, Charlie Angus Press Conference) “This was a group (WE) that came to the Canadian govern- ment and were going to receive between $500 and $900 million dollars based on their ability to deliver the programs in a fast and efficient manner.” (February 19, 2020, ETHI) “… the issue here is 912 million dollars and whether or not that was obtained through illegal lobbying…” (February 26, 2021, ETHI) “that was going to award them a (sic) 912 million dollars…” (March 1, 2021, Evan Solomon Radio Show) “they were making pretty big claims for that 912 million” (March 1, 2021, Evan Solomon Radio Show) “Today should have been the last day of witness testimo- ny of our study into the $912 million in taxpayers’ money that would have been gone to the given to the Kielburger group.” (March 8, 2021, ETHI) “Minister Chagger gave them a heads up on this sepa- rate service stream proposal that became the $900 million grant.” (March 8, 2021, ETHI) “And any group, any organization that’s looking to receive $912 million in taxpayer’s money, they must be willing to show up and answer the hard questions.” (March 8, 2021, ETHI) ISSUE: Falsely claiming WE Charity created the CSSG and pitched it to government NUMBER OF FALSE STATEMENTS ON THIS TOPIC 2 FALSE/MISLEADING STATEMENT(S) FACTS “…if you look at the documents that identify how this deal • The government’s own publicly-released chronology came about, we see that the Kielburgers were reaching out corroborates that WE had discussions with govern- for an initial program. We’re going to talk about that later, ment officials prior to April 20 about a small-in-scope because that is a very interesting one that has been very youth entrepreneurship program “unrelated to the overlooked.” (November 9, 2020, ETHI) service grant” (CSSG). “The Kielburgers continue to push the false line they gave to - The call from Rachel Wernick about the program our committee that they became embroiled in this controver- that what would become the CSSG did not happen sy because they naively answered the government’s call for until Sunday April 20, as has been widely corrobo- help. Not true.” (September 10, 2020, Twitter) rated in the public domain, and the government’s documents: - “On April 16, 2020, ESDC chronology indicates that an email from Rachel Wernick to Michelle Kovacevic noted ‘Volunteer Canada low capacity, I have asked Job Bank to come back to me with a proposal.’” - “April 19, 2020, Final memo to the Finance Minister on options for entire student package.
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