Officials from the Department of Finance declined to answer questions from MPs this week while appearing before a House of Commons committee studying the federal government’s recent suspension of activity with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
James Wu, director general of the finance department’s funds management division, and Kathleen Wrye, director of the department’s financial crimes and security division, told the Commons Standing Committee on Canada-China Relations on June 19 that the government’s decision relating to the AIIB was beyond their purview, as first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced on June 14 that Ottawa was ceasing all activities with the AIIB while it investigates allegations made by the bank’s Canadian global communications director, Bob Pickard, after declaring his resignation….