I was asked by someone if I knew or realized that the WE Charity did great work internationally? Yes, I do and what does that have to do with administrating $912 million here at home? Sophie does a podcast for WE and the family has appeared on stage at WE functions several times.
WE wouldn’t be the first organization that does good international work to come under the microscope from dealing with Justin Trudeau. Just ask the Aga Khan.
It is quite legitimate to ask the PM, his ministers, Ottawa bureaucrats and WE questions about what looks like a sole source contract.
- Charity Intelligence Canada gives WE a poor rating for financial openness and reports WE spends about 9% of its budget for administration and advertising. What financial reporting will be involved with this program now? Will MPs have the right to look at WE spending and administration costs for this program or it exempt now from such scrutiny by elected officials on behalf of Canadian taxpayers?
- Who made the first move IE did Trudeau, or his staff approach WE first?
- Why did the civil service feel they could not do the job? This was a very strange decision considering that the public service is there to administer programs on behalf of the taxpayer.
- Did the WE recommendation originate in the bureaucracy, PMO, minister’s office or come from WE?
- Who in the bureaucracy supported this decision?
- On what date was the minister’s office first informed about the WE contract?
- It would be interesting to know on what date the first briefing notes were prepared for the minister and for the PM as this will help point to the decision-maker and who came up with the idea.
- Is WE and this contract now exempt from Access To Information requests?
- Where are the spokespersons for the public service? They are usually opposed to out-sourcing federal programs?
It is a good thing for the Liberals that Trudeau with the help of the NDP was able to shut down Parliament, otherwise there would be plenty of negative headlines- something the Prime Minister doesn’t want as we begin to come out of the pandemic.
