Trudeau Foundation says it's launching independent review of potential China-linked donation

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation says it will be launching an independent review of the organization's acceptance of a donation 'with a potential connection to the Chinese government.'

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation says it will be launching an independent review of the organization's acceptance of a donation "with a potential connection to the Chinese government."

The foundation's board reached this unanimous decision prior to dissolution, according to board chair Edward Johnson.

"This review will be conducted by an accounting firm instructed by a law firm, neither of which were previously involved with the Foundation," Johnson said in a statement to CTV News.

On Tuesday, the foundation's entire board of directors and president and CEO announced their resignations, citing "politicization" of the self-described independent, non-partisan scholarship organization. 

Johnson was one of three directors who agreed to remain on the board on an interim basis. 

In announcing the mass exodus of the organization's leadership, the foundation cited the "great deal of pressure" put on management related to "the political climate surrounding a donation received by the Foundation in 2016."

Over the last few months amid reporting on foreign interference, attention has been put on the foundation over past members' ties to the current government, in light of reporting by The Globe and Mail stating the foundation had several years ago accepted a $200,000 donation from a Chinese businessman with ties to the Chinese government.