NORTH BAY -- Canadore College in North Bay is ending its relationship with WE Charity, an international charitable organization that helps families around the world lift themselves out of poverty, in the wake of ongoing controversy.
The college said it "was planning to maintain its affiliation with WE Schools, but the ongoing negative attention around the charity has forced a change in direction," in a news release Monday.
The controversy started after the federal government awarded WE Charity Canada a $912 million grant aimed at helping students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau have come under fire for not recusing themselves from discussions about awarding the charity the contract to administer the grants for the government-funded student volunteer program despite family connections to the organization.
WE Charity could have earned around $43.5 million to run the now-aborted program.
The WE organization has long-standing ties with the Trudeau family. Trudeau, his mother Margaret, brother Alexandre and wife Sophie, have all appeared at the group’s many events. The prime minister's family has been paid almost $300,000 over the last four years to speak at various engagements put on by the charity. Morneau's two daughters are also connected with the organization.
Trudeau and his top aide are set to appear before the House of Commons finance committee on Thursday to testify.
Canadore College and the Canadore Students’ Council launched WE Canadore in 2017. WE facilitators would travel to North Bay to lead face-to-face training to empower students with the skills, knowledge, and motivation to make a positive change in the community.
The school says WE Canadore student leaders would typically volunteer more than 1,100 hours annually in North Bay and district.
"Canadore will now embark on a new leadership training program for students," said the school. "Canadore College specializes in training, and our professionals will leverage their expertise to create an incredible program - enabling students to continue their leadership development."
The school pledges that student volunteer efforts in the community will continue.
Meanwhile, the college plans to reveal details of its new student leadership training program in the next few weeks.
It will include the existing "Canadore Volunteer," a program that encourages the entire Canadore community students, employees, and business partners to engage in community service. College business partners will be invited to engage with students on leadership opportunities.
