CBC TV: Power and Politics
COMMONS COMMITTEE TO PROBE WE CHARITY CONTRACT
by: Vassy Kapelos
Participants:
CATHERINE CULLEN (NEWSCASTER):
AN UPDATE FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING RIGHT NOW TO STUDY GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. A COMMITTEE HAS PASSED A CONSERVATIVE MOTION TO PROBE THE GOVERNMENT'S SOLE-SOURCED CONTRACT TO THE WE CHARITY TO RUN THE $912 MILLION CANADA STUDENT SERVICE GRANT PROGRAM. IF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE IS PART OF ITS STUDY ON COVID-19 HOLD HEARINGS IN JULY 2020 FOR NO LESS THAN FOUR MEETINGS FOR DURATION OF THREE HOURS EACH TO EXAMINE HOW MUCH THE GOVERNMENT SPENT IN AWARDING THE $912 MILLION SOLE-SOURCED CONTRACT TO WE CHARITY AND HOW THE OUTSOURCING OF THE CANADA STUDENT SERVICE GRANT TO WE CHARITY PROCEEDED AS FAR AS IT DID. THE COMMITTEE PRODUCES A REPORT ON ITS FINDINGS TO BE TABLED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. David: OKAY, SO WE, THE CHARITY, NOT US, WE ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. ANOTHER MOTION TABLED BY NDP MP PETER JULIAN CALLED FOR THE RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS. THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE BY AUGUST 8th. THE SHOW HAS REQUESTED AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FILE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE MINISTER BARDISH CHAGGER HAS BEEN UNAVAILABLE.