Former governor general David Johnston agreed to answer questions from MPs regarding his involvement with the Trudeau Foundation. . Trudeau Foundation and China Flag .According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Johnston had been ignoring requests to show up at the Commons Public Accounts committee and he barely managed to avoid being summoned last Thursday..“I am happy and pleased,” said Conservative MP John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, NB), chair of the committee. Johnson “agreed to appear.”.Johnston had previously declined to talk about his role with the Trudeau Foundation, which misrepresented a $140,000 donation from a Chinese donor as a contribution from Canada. Liberal Party MPs on the Public Accounts committee were against calling him to testify as a hostile witness..“I am really concerned about summoning witnesses,” said Liberal MP Jean Yip (Scarborough-Agincourt, ON). .“Witnesses are usually invited.”.“It’s not easy for witnesses to speak and answer any types of questions because they never know where we’re coming from,” said Yip. .“So it does take some courage to come and we want them to come voluntarily. By summoning witnesses, it takes it a step too far.”.The Foundation in 2016 accepted a $140,000 donation from a Beijing corporation affiliated with state-run China Central Television and the Communist Youth League. The contribution was misrepresented as a gift from a Canadian donor in Dorval, Quebec..On May 2, Morris Rosenberg, the CEO of the Foundation at that time, testified that he never raised any concerns or questioned the donation or its misrepresentation..“Our intention was not to hide anything,” Rosenberg told the Commons Ethics committee..“Do you receive donations from many Canadian corporations that ask you send the paperwork back to China?” asked Conservative MP Michael Barrett (Leeds-Grenville, ON). .“No, I don’t,” replied Rosenberg..“Is this the only time that happened?” asked Barrett. .“As far as I know, it is,” replied Rosenberg..Pascale Fornier, another CEO of the Trudeau Foundation, testified on April 28 she quit after learning of the circumstances surrounding the Chinese donation. . David Johnston First Report .“This was a declaration on behalf of the Foundation to say that it was not foreign money, that it was Canadian money — this was in the annual report as well — when in fact, the tax receipt itself mentions China,” said Fornier. .“I think this is something that is misleading to Canadians.”.“Did you step down because you weren’t comfortable with your own legal standing?” asked New Democrat MP Matthew Green (Hamilton Centre, ON). .“Yes,” replied Fornier..Johnston today will testify at a separate hearing of the House Affairs committee regarding his role as the Prime Minister’s “special rapporteur” on alleged election fraud by Chinese agents in Canada. Johnston, in a May 23 First Report, absolved the prime minister, cabinet and political aides of any negligence in failing to act on security warnings.
Former governor general David Johnston agreed to answer questions from MPs regarding his involvement with the Trudeau Foundation. . Trudeau Foundation and China Flag .According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Johnston had been ignoring requests to show up at the Commons Public Accounts committee and he barely managed to avoid being summoned last Thursday..“I am happy and pleased,” said Conservative MP John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, NB), chair of the committee. Johnson “agreed to appear.”.Johnston had previously declined to talk about his role with the Trudeau Foundation, which misrepresented a $140,000 donation from a Chinese donor as a contribution from Canada. Liberal Party MPs on the Public Accounts committee were against calling him to testify as a hostile witness..“I am really concerned about summoning witnesses,” said Liberal MP Jean Yip (Scarborough-Agincourt, ON). .“Witnesses are usually invited.”.“It’s not easy for witnesses to speak and answer any types of questions because they never know where we’re coming from,” said Yip. .“So it does take some courage to come and we want them to come voluntarily. By summoning witnesses, it takes it a step too far.”.The Foundation in 2016 accepted a $140,000 donation from a Beijing corporation affiliated with state-run China Central Television and the Communist Youth League. The contribution was misrepresented as a gift from a Canadian donor in Dorval, Quebec..On May 2, Morris Rosenberg, the CEO of the Foundation at that time, testified that he never raised any concerns or questioned the donation or its misrepresentation..“Our intention was not to hide anything,” Rosenberg told the Commons Ethics committee..“Do you receive donations from many Canadian corporations that ask you send the paperwork back to China?” asked Conservative MP Michael Barrett (Leeds-Grenville, ON). .“No, I don’t,” replied Rosenberg..“Is this the only time that happened?” asked Barrett. .“As far as I know, it is,” replied Rosenberg..Pascale Fornier, another CEO of the Trudeau Foundation, testified on April 28 she quit after learning of the circumstances surrounding the Chinese donation. . David Johnston First Report .“This was a declaration on behalf of the Foundation to say that it was not foreign money, that it was Canadian money — this was in the annual report as well — when in fact, the tax receipt itself mentions China,” said Fornier. .“I think this is something that is misleading to Canadians.”.“Did you step down because you weren’t comfortable with your own legal standing?” asked New Democrat MP Matthew Green (Hamilton Centre, ON). .“Yes,” replied Fornier..Johnston today will testify at a separate hearing of the House Affairs committee regarding his role as the Prime Minister’s “special rapporteur” on alleged election fraud by Chinese agents in Canada. Johnston, in a May 23 First Report, absolved the prime minister, cabinet and political aides of any negligence in failing to act on security warnings.
