The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation CEO, president, and the entire board of directors resigned Tuesday over the “pressure” of a $200,000 donation allegedly tied to China..The donation happened seven years ago and returned last month after the Globe and Mail ran a report allegedly linking the donation to the Chinese government..The resignation statement said: “The circumstances created by the politicization of the foundation made it impossible to continue with the status quo, and the volunteer board of directors resigned, as has the president and CEO.”.“In recent weeks, the political climate surrounding a donation received by the foundation in 2016 put a great deal of pressure on the foundation’s management and volunteer board of directors, as well as on our staff and our community,” said the statement..“The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is an independent, non-partisan scholarship organization created with broad support in the House of Commons in 2002.”.Three directors will continue with the foundation until a new board can be selected..“Three directors have agreed to remain on an interim basis so the foundation can continue to meet its obligations pending board renewal, including towards its scholars, mentors and fellows,” said the statement..“We would like to thank Pascale Fournier for her work as president and CEO over the past five years, as well as all the members of the board of directors.”
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation CEO, president, and the entire board of directors resigned Tuesday over the “pressure” of a $200,000 donation allegedly tied to China..The donation happened seven years ago and returned last month after the Globe and Mail ran a report allegedly linking the donation to the Chinese government..The resignation statement said: “The circumstances created by the politicization of the foundation made it impossible to continue with the status quo, and the volunteer board of directors resigned, as has the president and CEO.”.“In recent weeks, the political climate surrounding a donation received by the foundation in 2016 put a great deal of pressure on the foundation’s management and volunteer board of directors, as well as on our staff and our community,” said the statement..“The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is an independent, non-partisan scholarship organization created with broad support in the House of Commons in 2002.”.Three directors will continue with the foundation until a new board can be selected..“Three directors have agreed to remain on an interim basis so the foundation can continue to meet its obligations pending board renewal, including towards its scholars, mentors and fellows,” said the statement..“We would like to thank Pascale Fournier for her work as president and CEO over the past five years, as well as all the members of the board of directors.”