OTTAWA -- Thousands of pages of newly released documents back up the Trudeau government's contention that it was federal public servants who recommended a student service grant program be administered by WE Charity.
The controversy over the now-abandoned program has spawned investigations by the federal ethics watchdog into possible conflict of interest on the part of Trudeau and his former finance minister, Bill Morneau, who also has close family ties to WE Charity. Trudeau announced the broad outlines of the grant program on April 22 as part of a $9-billion package of measures to support young people during the pandemic.
He then adds: "We appreciate your thoughtful offer to connect us with relevant members of your ministry. Our weekend team has also been hard at work to adapt your suggestion of a second stream focused on a summer service opportunity." The following day, in an email to PCO officials, Kovacevic wrote that the Prime Minister's Office had been "weighing in" on the latest student grant proposal, which had become "bit of a shit show." She said there had been "positive communication with WE" and that "discussions are encouraging on that front."
Some have criticized the service grant program as a way for not-for-profit groups to effectively hire workers who'd have been paid less than minimum wage An April 30 ESDC memorandum says that the department itself couldn't do the job because "no mechanism currently exists to deliver a grant of this type directly to a large number of youth." In the interests of "speed and simplicity," it said a third party should administer the program, although there were few who could perform all the functions that the government wanted.
Just a nudge! Not an order!
And he needs much more, will be the end of your cash cow