Former Trudeau Foundation head says engaging with Chinese officials was 'naïve'
CBC
Morris Rosenberg, the former president and CEO of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, says in retrospect the embattled charity was naïve to think it would have "soft power" over China when it accepted money in 2016 with ties to the Chinese government.
The former veteran public servant told a parliamentary committee Tuesday night that at the time, there was a belief that engaging with Chinese officials would familiarize them with Canadian governance, rule of law and human rights.
"Was that naïve at the time? In hindsight, probably it was naive," said Rosenberg.
"We felt we could do more good."
The access to information, privacy and ethics committee has been investigating whether a promise of $200,000 to the foundation, which funds and promotes academic and public interest research, was part of an influence campaign by the Chinese government to get to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
WATCH | Former Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation president testifies at committee:
The donation was attributed originally to two Chinese businessmen, Zhang Bin and Niu Gensheng. It was later reported that the payment was made from Bin's company Millennium Golden Eagle International.
The China Cultural Industry Association says Millennium Golden Eagle International is one of its executive board members and was created with the approval of China's culture ministry.
NDP MP Matthew Green asked Rosenberg if he thinks the foundation would have gotten the donation if it didn't share a name with the prime minister.
"It's not that we were naïve that we were dealing with people that were linked to the Chinese government, because just about everybody was. What we were naïve about was that we actually believed by dealing with them, that we would have soft power influence on them," said Rosenberg.
That answer seemed to baffle Green.
"I've been pretty neutral until that comment," said the New Democrat. "Because that has a level of hubris that I think is the challenge that this foundation is facing, quite frankly, that has gotten us into this mess."
During another exchange, Conservative MP Michael Cooper asked why no red flags were raised within the foundation.
"One of two things are possible. Either you're completely incompetent or you were willfully blind. There is nothing in your record to indicate you're incompetent. The only conclusion is you were willfully blind," said Cooper, eliciting cries of outrage from others in the room.
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