# Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

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Canadian charity

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fondation Pierre Elliott Trudeau Types Charitable organization Legal status Foundation Purpose Education Headquarters 1980 Sherbrooke Street West Suite 600 Montreal, Quebec Canada H3H 1E8 Country Canada Revenue 23,316,526 Canadian dollar (2024) Total Assets 164,892,482 Canadian dollar (2024) Employees 20 (2021) Website www.trudeaufoundation.ca

The **Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation** ([French](/source/French_language): *Fondation Pierre Elliott Trudeau*), commonly called the **Trudeau Foundation** ([French](/source/French_language): *Fondation Trudeau*), is a [Canadian](/source/Canadians) charity founded in 2001 named after former Canadian prime minister [Pierre Trudeau](/source/Pierre_Trudeau).

Donations to the charity increased when Justin Trudeau became the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and again in 2015 when the party won the federal election.

In early 2023, most of the board of directors resigned, in light of a $200,000 donation from Chinese political strategist and billionaire [Zhang Bin](/source/Zhang_Bin_(political_strategist)). The donation was reported in the context of [allegations of Chinese government interference in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections](/source/Chinese_government_interference_in_the_2019_and_2021_Canadian_federal_elections).

## Organization

The foundation has a board of directors appointed by members. Membership control the bylaws of the organization and the board supervise charitable activities.[1]

Members include [Denise Chong](/source/Denise_Chong), [Thomas Axworthy](/source/Tom_Axworthy) and [Alexandre Trudeau](/source/Alexandre_Trudeau), the brother of Canadian Prime Minister [Justin Trudeau](/source/Justin_Trudeau).[2] Previous board members have included Pierre Trudeau's daughter Sarah Coyne, [Chuck Strahl](/source/Chuck_Strahl), [Megan Leslie](/source/Megan_Leslie), [Peter Lougheed](/source/Peter_Lougheed) and [Bill Davis](/source/Bill_Davis). Previous presidents have included Pierre-Gerlier Forest.[2]

## Activities

The foundation funds research and education, including granting twenty doctoral scholarships annually. In additional to financial support, the organisation links academics up with mentors. Mentors affiliated with the foundation have included [Beverly McLachlin](/source/Beverley_McLachlin), [Louise Arbour](/source/Louise_Arbour), [Anne McLellan](/source/Anne_McLellan), [Pierre Pettigrew](/source/Pierre_Pettigrew), [Marie Deschamps](/source/Marie_Deschamps), [Thomas Cromwell](/source/Thomas_Cromwell_(jurist)), [Tony Penikett](/source/Tony_Penikett), [Michael Harcourt](/source/Mike_Harcourt), [Elizabeth May](/source/Elizabeth_May), [Michael Fortier](/source/Michael_Fortier), [Ed Broadbent](/source/Ed_Broadbent), [Lorna Williams](/source/Lorna_Williams) and [Frank Iacobucci](/source/Frank_Iacobucci).[2][3]

## History

The foundation was founded in 2001, one year after the death of Pierre Elliot Trudeau.[2] In 2002, the [Government of Canada](/source/Government_of_canada) endowed the foundation with $125 million. The organization is obliged to not spend the endowment, but instead invest the money and use income from the investments to fund its activities.[2] Justin Trudeau divested his interest in the foundation in 2013 when he entered federal politics.[4] However, the independence of the foundation from the Prime Minister has been questioned after [Le Devoir](/source/Le_Devoir) reported that the foundation held round table meetings in the [Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council](/source/Office_of_the_Prime_Minister_and_Privy_Council) in 2016 following Trudeau's election.[5] Justin Trudeau claimed to not have known of the 2016 foundation meeting held in the Prime Minister's office.[6] Donations to the foundation increased after 2013 when Justin Trudeau became the leader of the Liberal Party and again in 2016, after the Liberal Party won the [2015 Canadian federal election](/source/2015_Canadian_federal_election).[7] The percentage of foreign donors has increased since 2013.[7]

## Directed donation from Chinese government and aftermath

See also: [Chinese government interference in Canada](/source/Chinese_government_interference_in_Canada)

In 2015 Chinese billionaire and [Chinese Communist Party](/source/Chinese_Communist_Party) advisor[8] [Zhang Bin](/source/Zhang_Bin_(political_strategist)) attended a [Liberal Party of Canada](/source/Liberal_Party_of_Canada) fundraising event before pledging a $200,000 donation to the foundation.[9] An additional $750,000 was donated to Pierre Trudeau's [alma mater](/source/Alma_mater), the [University of Montreal](/source/University_of_Montreal)’s Faculty of Law, while $50,000 was allegedly pledged for the construction of a statue at the University of Montreal. Zhang had originally requested that the statue be of both Pierre Trudeau and [Mao Zedong](/source/Mao_Zedong), but the University rebuffed this proposal and a statue of only Pierre Trudeau was ultimately planned.[10][11] The deal to accept the donation was signed by [Sacha Trudeau](/source/Alexandre_Trudeau), Justin Trudeau's brother, who also attended the event commemorating the combined $1-million donation as a director and member of the foundation, with Zhang and Chinese consulate staff in attendance.[10][12]

In March 2023, former chief executive [Morris Rosenberg](/source/Morris_Rosenberg)[11] defended media criticism of the donation by saying that Canada and China had had a better relationship at time.[13] Allegations regarding the role of the [Chinese Communist Party](/source/Chinese_Communist_Party) in directing and funding the donation were revealed as part of a series of leaks claiming to be from the CSIS regarding [Chinese political interference in Canada](/source/Chinese_intelligence_activity_abroad).[14] On March 1, 2023, the foundation announced that it would return the $140,000 that it has thus far received from Zhang. The remainder of Zhang's $200,000 donation was never received.[11]

On April 11, 2023, all but three of the board of directors, including president Pascale Fournier resigned[2] citing controversy over the Zhang's donation.[4] Three directors remained in post on a temporary basis in order to meet legal minimums.[15] On April 12, day [*La Presse*](/source/La_Presse_(Canadian_newspaper)) reported that other governance concerns had led to the resignations, including record keeping issues that prevented returning the $140,000 donation.[16] As a result, the board concluded that it would be "unlawful" to return the donation as they had committed to do.[16][1]

On April 12, the foundation's board chair [Edward Johnson](/source/Edward_Johnson_(lawyer)) said that it would commission an independent review of Zhang's donation.[9] The foundation also requested that the [Auditor General of Canada](/source/Auditor_General_of_Canada) conduct a review, however, the office declined because its mandate is limited to reviews of federal government departments, agencies, [Crown corporations](/source/Crown_corporations_of_Canada), and those of territorial governments.[17] On April 28, 2023, former chair Pascale Fournier testified at a parliamentary ethics committee. Fournier said that she did not know who was behind the $140,000 donation to the foundation and that while the money was formally received from [Millennium Golden Eagle International (Canada)](/source/Millennium_Golden_Eagle_International), the company provided an address in Beijing rather than the address in Hong Kong that matched the website address of the company's parent company. The [Canadian Security Intelligence Service](/source/Canadian_Security_Intelligence_Service) intercepted the telecommunications of [Millennium Golden Eagle International](/source/Millennium_Golden_Eagle_International) leader [Zhang Bin](/source/Zhang_Bin_(political_strategist)) and heard promises that the donation would be reimbursed by the Government of China.[18]

In testimony before the House of Commons ethics committee on May 3, 2023, Sacha Trudeau called Zhang Bin "honorable", insisting that the foundation was never the target of foreign interference and that he "had seen no trace of it".[12]

## See also

- [WE Charity scandal](/source/WE_Charity_scandal)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_1-1) CBC News (12 April 2023). ["Controversial Trudeau Foundation donation from Beijing-linked businessman was not reimbursed"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-foundation-china-donation-1.6808272). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230412203305/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-foundation-china-donation-1.6808272) from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:0_2-5) Major, Darren (16 April 2023). ["What is the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and what does it do?"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/what-is-the-trudeau-foundation-1.6811429). *CBC*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230416150202/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/what-is-the-trudeau-foundation-1.6811429) from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["UVic news - University of Victoria"](https://www.uvic.ca/news/archive/topics/2021+trudeau-fellow-lorna-williams+news). *www.uvic.ca*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_4-1) Raycraft, Richard (12 April 2023). ["Trudeau Foundation president, board resign, citing 'politicization' of China-linked donation"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-foundation-resign-1.6806482). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230411215515/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-foundation-resign-1.6806482) from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Bellavance, Joël-Denis; Marquis, Mélanie; Gagnon, Katia; Marquis, Mélanie (24 April 2023). ["Fondation Trudeau: Une réunion dans le QG du premier ministre"](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2023-04-24/fondation-trudeau/une-reunion-dans-le-qg-du-premier-ministre.php). *La Presse* (in Canadian French). Retrieved 4 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["PM did not know about Trudeau Foundation meeting in office: Holland | Watch News Videos Online"](https://globalnews.ca/video/9647441/pm-did-not-know-about-trudeau-foundation-meeting-in-office-holland). *Global News*. Retrieved 4 May 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_7-1) Brownell, Claire; Schwartz, Zane (14 Dec 2016). ["Money began to rain on Trudeau Foundation once Justin took over Liberals, analysis shows"](https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/money-began-to-rain-on-trudeau-foundation-once-justin-took-over-liberals-analysis-shows). *[National Post](/source/National_Post)*. Retrieved 2023-04-16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Chinese Billionaire Who Donated $1 Million to Trudeau Foundation Wanted to Build Mao Statue in Montreal"](https://www.nationalreview.com/news/chinese-billionaire-who-donated-1-million-to-trudeau-foundation-wanted-to-build-mao-statue-in-montreal/). *[National Review](/source/National_Review)*. 2023-03-01. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230309024718/https://www.nationalreview.com/news/chinese-billionaire-who-donated-1-million-to-trudeau-foundation-wanted-to-build-mao-statue-in-montreal/) from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2023-04-16.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_9-1) ["What's going on with the Trudeau Foundation? Here's what we know about the controversy that led to a mass resignation"](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2023/04/12/whats-going-on-with-the-trudeau-foundation-heres-what-we-know-about-the-controversy-that-led-to-a-mass-resignation.html). *[The Toronto Star](/source/The_Toronto_Star)*. 2023-04-12. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230414021758/https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2023/04/12/whats-going-on-with-the-trudeau-foundation-heres-what-we-know-about-the-controversy-that-led-to-a-mass-resignation.html) from the original on 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2023-04-16.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GlobePierreStatue_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GlobePierreStatue_10-1) VanderKlippe, Nathan (28 February 2023). ["Chinese donors who funded Trudeau Foundation wanted statue of Mao in Montreal"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-chinese-donors-who-funded-trudeau-foundation-wanted-statue-of-mao-in/). *The Globe and Mail*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230301032723/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-chinese-donors-who-funded-trudeau-foundation-wanted-statue-of-mao-in/) from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GlobeDonationReturn_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GlobeDonationReturn_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-GlobeDonationReturn_11-2) Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven (1 March 2023). ["Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation to return donation to Chinese donor"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-pierre-elliott-trudeau-foundation-to-return-200000-donation-to-china/). *The Globe and Mail*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230302033915/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-pierre-elliott-trudeau-foundation-to-return-200000-donation-to-china/) from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NatPoSacha_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NatPoSacha_12-1) Lévesque, Catherine. ["Sacha Trudeau denies Trudeau Foundation was target of foreign influence, says Chinese donor is 'honourable'"](https://nationalpost.com/news/sacha-trudeau-denies-trudeau-foundation-target-of-foreign-influence). *National Post*. Retrieved 4 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NatPostDifferentTimes_13-0)** ["Former Trudeau Foundation president says Canada, China had better relationship at time of donation"](https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/canada-china-had-better-relations-at-time-of-pledge). *National Post*. The Canadian Press. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GlobeCSISplot_14-0)** Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven (28 February 2023). ["CSIS uncovered Chinese plan to donate to Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-csis-uncovered-chinese-plan-to-donate-to-pierre-elliott-trudeau/). *The Globe and Mail*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230301035847/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-csis-uncovered-chinese-plan-to-donate-to-pierre-elliott-trudeau/) from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Passifiume, Bryan (11 April 2023). ["'Politicization' blamed as Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation CEO, board step down amid Chinese donation scandal"](https://nationalpost.com/news/board-ceo-of-pierre-elliott-trudeau-foundation-steps-down). *[National Post](/source/National_Post)*. Retrieved 2023-04-16.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fife1_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fife1_16-1) [Fife, Robert](/source/Robert_Fife); Chase, Steven (12 April 2023). ["Un-returnable Chinese donation triggered governance crisis at Trudeau foundation: report"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-chinese-donation-governance-crisis-trudeau-foundation/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230412174908/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-chinese-donation-governance-crisis-trudeau-foundation/) from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [The Canadian Press](/source/The_Canadian_Press) (2023-04-24). ["Auditor general says she won't probe donations made to Trudeau Foundation"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/auditor-general-trudeau-foundation-1.6820375). *[CBC News](/source/CBC_News)*. Retrieved 2023-04-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Former Trudeau Foundation head says past leadership misled Canadians on Chinese donation"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-former-trudeau-foundation-head-says-past-leadership-misled-canadians/). *The Globe and Mail*. 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-04-29.

## External links

- [The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation](http://www.trudeaufoundation.ca)

v t e Pierre Trudeau October 18, 1919 – September 28, 2000 15th Prime Minister of Canada (1968–1979, 1980–1984) Leader of the Opposition (1979–1980) Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (1968–1984) Member of Parliament for Mount Royal (1965–1984) Premierships First Cabinet: 20th Canadian Ministry Parliaments 27th 28th 29th 30th Party: Liberal Budgets 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 May 1974 November 1974 1975 1976 1977 April 1978 November 1978 Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968–69 Official bilingualism in Canada Official Languages Act October Crisis War Measures Act "Just watch me" Foreign Investment Review Agency Petro-Canada Second Cabinet: 22nd Canadian Ministry 32nd Parliament Party: Liberal Budgets 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1980 Quebec referendum National Energy Program Constitution Act, 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Political activities Trudeauism Trudeaumania (Fuddle duddle) Just society Multiculturalism in Canada Elections 1968 Liberal Party leadership election 1968 federal election 1972 federal election 1974 federal election 1979 federal election 1980 federal election Key staff advisors Principal secretaries Marc Lalonde Martin O'Connell Jack Austin Jim Coutts Tom Axworthy Others partisan aide Jean Charpentier Keith Davey Joyce Fairbairn Gordon Gibson Edward Johnson Colin Kenny Michael Kirby Roméo LeBlanc Jean Le Moyne Civil Servants Michael Pitfield Allan Gotlieb John G. H. Halstead Life Cité Libre Death and state funeral Family Charles-Émile Trudeau (father) Margaret Sinclair (former wife) Deborah Coyne (partner) Justin Trudeau (son) Alexandre Trudeau (son) Michel Trudeau (son) Sophie Grégoire Trudeau (daughter-in-law) Xavier Trudeau (grandson) Related Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation The Champions (1978 miniseries) Just Watch Me: Trudeau and the '70s Generation (1999 documentary) Trudeau (2002 miniseries) Young Trudeau (2006 book)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Elliott_Trudeau_Foundation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Elliott_Trudeau_Foundation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.