False statement by the co-founder
of WE Charity
Brothers Marc and Craig (right) Kielburger, founders of WE Charity, testified this week in Ottawa.
Uncover fake news, verify politicians' statements, find the real numbers: our Bureau of Investigation researchers, based in Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa, specialize in the art of setting the record straight. Every Saturday, they present their finds to you
so you can see more clearly in the news of the week.
THE STATEMENT
WE Charity co-founding brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger testified Tuesday in Ottawa on the controversy surrounding their organization and the Trudeau government. WE had secured up to $ 43.5 million in public funds without a call for tenders to manage a scholarship program valued at $ 912 million, before the agreement was canceled.
In parliamentary committee, the two men sought to demonstrate that their organization
had no special relationship with the current Liberal government.
"[...] in previous years under the previous Harper government, we had a greater percentage of our total budget donated by the federal government than last year under the Trudeau government," argued Craig Kielburger.
FACTS
so you can see more clearly in the news of the week.
THE STATEMENT
WE Charity co-founding brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger testified Tuesday in Ottawa on the controversy surrounding their organization and the Trudeau government. WE had secured up to $ 43.5 million in public funds without a call for tenders to manage a scholarship program valued at $ 912 million, before the agreement was canceled.
In parliamentary committee, the two men sought to demonstrate that their organization
had no special relationship with the current Liberal government.
"[...] in previous years under the previous Harper government, we had a greater percentage of our total budget donated by the federal government than last year under the Trudeau government," argued Craig Kielburger.
FACTS
This assertion is false. Contrary to what Mr. Kielburger asserts, WE Charity was no more dependent on federal funding under Stephen Harper than under Justin Trudeau.
We have unearthed financial returns produced by WE Charity to the Canada Revenue Agency since 2006 - when Mr. Harper was elected Prime Minister. |
From 2006 to 2015, 0.4% of the total sums raised by WE Charity came from the federal government. This percentage has risen sharply since Justin Trudeau has been in power. Since 2016, 1.68% of total funding has come from Ottawa.
For 2019 alone, this share was 1.03%.
In less than five years, the Trudeau government has given four times as much money to the charity ($ 3.76 million) as during the three terms of the Conservative government ($ 940,028). WE did not receive any money during three years spent under the Conservatives.
For 2019 alone, this share was 1.03%.
In less than five years, the Trudeau government has given four times as much money to the charity ($ 3.76 million) as during the three terms of the Conservative government ($ 940,028). WE did not receive any money during three years spent under the Conservatives.
The number of the week: 50%
This is the proportion of Quebecers who say they are ready to use a mobile application for tracing COVID-19 contacts, according to Statistics Canada. The Canadian average is 56%, and this rate is increasing in large cities, to 60%.
The results of this survey are released as Health Canada launched its COVID Alert application yesterday.
Its users are notified if they have encountered someone in the past 14 days who has tested positive for COVID-19.
The most reluctant age group to install a contact finder app is 25 to 64 years old. Those aged 15 to 24 and those 65 and over say 63% and 61% respectively that they will probably use such an app.
Among those who say they are ready to use the app, two-thirds would even agree to the data being disclosed to government officials.
This is the proportion of Quebecers who say they are ready to use a mobile application for tracing COVID-19 contacts, according to Statistics Canada. The Canadian average is 56%, and this rate is increasing in large cities, to 60%.
The results of this survey are released as Health Canada launched its COVID Alert application yesterday.
Its users are notified if they have encountered someone in the past 14 days who has tested positive for COVID-19.
The most reluctant age group to install a contact finder app is 25 to 64 years old. Those aged 15 to 24 and those 65 and over say 63% and 61% respectively that they will probably use such an app.
Among those who say they are ready to use the app, two-thirds would even agree to the data being disclosed to government officials.