(OTTAWA) A businessman whose donations to the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Foundation led to the resignation of its CEO and board of directors is the president of the China Cultural Industry Association, which claims to lead its activities under the authority of the communist government.
The Bloc Québécois, for its part, is asking the Auditor General of Canada to diligently investigate the recent revelations concerning the Pierre-Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
The China Cultural Industry Association’s website states that it adheres to the “total leadership” of the Communist Party of China and was established with the approval of China’s State Council – synonymous with central government.
The association indicates on its website, in Chinese, that its president is Zhang Bin, a Chinese billionaire who, according to the Globe and Mail, donated $200,000 to the Trudeau Foundation in 2016, along with another businessman. Chinese business.
But the daily reported that a receipt named a company called “Millennium Golden Eagle International (Canada)” as the donor.
The China Cultural Industry Association says Millennium Golden Eagle International is one of its board members and was established with the approval of China’s Ministry of Culture.
In many private Chinese company records, Mr. Zhang is listed as President of Millennium Golden Eagle International.
The Globe and Mail reported in February, citing an unnamed source, that the Chinese government had orchestrated donations to the University of Montreal and the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Foundation in hopes of influencing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The university said in a statement Thursday that it was considering all options in light of new information about a $750,000 donation received in 2016 that allegedly had ties to Beijing.
The Trudeau Foundation, for its part, had promised to return the $200,000 donation from Mr. Zhang and Niu Gensheng.
During a press conference in Regina on Thursday, Justin Trudeau repeated that he had no ties for ten years with the non-profit organization that bears the name of his father.
Last Tuesday, the foundation’s board members and CEO Pascale Fournier resigned, saying the charity’s politicization made it “impossible to continue the status quo”.
According to the Globe and Mail, the Trudeau Foundation is currently conducting an independent review of its initial decision to accept the donation.
La Presse reported Wednesday that the foundation was unable to return the money received from Millennium Golden Eagle, a donation that ultimately amounted to $140,000.
The China Cultural Industry Association said in 2016 on its WeChat social media account that it had set up a “Trudeau Education Fund” at the University of Montreal.
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet wrote to the Auditor General of Canada, Karen Hogan, to remind her that not only had the reimbursement not been made, but that the signatory of the original check would not be the real one. donor.
Mr. Blanchet finds these revelations extremely concerning. In his opinion, the allegations of foreign interference raise fears and affect public confidence in Canadian institutions.
Prime Minister Trudeau recently appointed former Governor General David Johnston as a “special rapporteur” to investigate foreign interference.
The massive resignations at the foundation give the prime minister an additional reason to revoke the mandate granted to David Johnston, according to Yves-François Blanchet.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre recalled this week that Johnston was a member of the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Foundation. He posted on his Twitter account on Wednesday a copy of a letter he allegedly sent to Mr. Johnston.
His scathing and terse missive read: “Dear Reporter, explain this: how are you going to investigate Beijing’s donation to the Trudeau Foundation while you were part of the Trudeau Foundation? I am waiting for your answer “.
