Trudeau government distances itself as WE Charity shutters Canadian operations

OTTAWA – The Trudeau government is trying to distance itself from the news that the WE Charity is shutting down its Canadian operations.

When the news broke that the organization was shuttering operations in this country, the Prime Minister’s Office said it would not comment on the developments.

“WE Charity and other non-profit organizations have decided their destiny. They make decisions on their own,” Minister of Families Ahmed Hussein said on Thursday, when asked if the government shares any blame.

A press secretary for Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau says they have no comment on the WE charity closing its Canadian operations #cdnpoli https://t.co/4T67w9dgpi

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) September 9, 2020

He said the goal of the Canada Student Service Grant was to help students struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“And we continue to look at options to allow young people to have more support to serve their communities. What the WE Charity does is really up to them. It’s a decision that they’re making.”

Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna also put the decision squarely on the WE Charity.

“There are lessons to be learned from that episode, sure. But, decisions by WE are solely decisions by WE,” she told reporters.

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Craig and Marc Kielburger, the founders of the WE Charity who are now leaving the organization, have said there is no one to blame.

WE has cited the COVID-19 pandemic and the fallout from the scandal over its involvement in the grant as reasons for the shutdown.

Opposition parties say this won’t end the scrutiny for the Trudeau government, noting committees will keep investigating and demand the charity hand over documents.

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole on the WE charity closure #cdnpoli https://t.co/uBksnGnCjt

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) September 9, 2020

The closure also won’t end the ethics commissioner’s investigation into the family ties of the prime minister and and former finance minister Bill Morneau to the charity, and whether or not they broke ethics rules by approving the WE contract.

Both Justin Trudeau and Morneau have apologized for not recusing themselves from the decision.

The organization has lost many of its corporate sponsors over the past few months, which the Kielburgers have said has left the group in dire financial straits.

WE Charity management has said the decision to shut down will help the organization pay off millions in bank debt and continue funding international development.