The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is governed by a board of up to 18 directors, and Canada’s industry minister has the power to appoint two of those directors, something charity expert Kate Bahen says she has never seen before.
It’s “highly unusual” for the government to have this influence on a charity, even when the government gives an endowment, Bahen told The Epoch Times.
The foundation, which describes itself as “an independent and non-partisan charity,” began operations when it received a $125 million endowment from the federal government in March 2002.
“Normally, the government just gives you money,” said Bahen, managing director of Charity Intelligence Canada, adding that it doesn’t usually require seats on the board or any other oversight powers….