Senator Plett: If this Prime Minister would, for once, be honest with Canadians and tell us the answers, we would be able to stop asking these questions.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Leader, according to The Globe and Mail, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS, learned that a wealthy political adviser to the Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, in Beijing was instructed to donate to the Trudeau Foundation and that the communist regime would reimburse the entire amount of that donation.

Following this report, the Trudeau Foundation returned a $200,000 gift it received in 2016, leader. The foundation’s president and CEO stated, “. . . ethics and integrity are among our core values . . . .” Integrity is important to them, but not until seven years after the fact, leader? The Prime Minister must have known the truth behind this $200,000 gift — not a small gift.

Senator Plett: His government appoints two seats on the foundation’s board, and his family appoints two seats. This is confirmed in the Trudeau Foundation annual reports and by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Leader, how can the Trudeau government say there is no link between Prime Minister Trudeau and the Trudeau Foundation? No one believes that this is credible, leader. How can your government say this and expect Canadians to believe this and have confidence in him?

Senator Plett: Well, you are right, leader, it is our right to ask these questions.

You know what else is our right, leader? A right to have the answers, as it is the right of all Canadians to have the answers.

Senator Plett: You say the Trudeau Foundation does great work. Nobody is suggesting it doesn’t. But that does not give them the right to accept illegal donations, no matter how much good work they do.

You say I insinuated. You clearly made an insinuation: Don’t talk to us or ask me questions about a questionable donation because the foundation is doing good work. How can you put those two together, leader?

As I said yesterday, the Prime Minister shouldn’t have any say, leader; he should have no say in how Beijing’s interference is being investigated. He could just tell Canadians what he knew and when he knew it. But he won’t. Why? Because he was the prime beneficiary.

Instead of a full and truly independent public inquiry, Prime Minister Trudeau named a long-time family friend, a skiing buddy and a member of the Trudeau Foundation to produce a report months from now, leader. This is designed by the Prime Minister to, again, distract and buy time, and he makes a mockery of accountability.

Senator Plett: Leader, how was the former Governor General appointed to the Trudeau Foundation in 2018? Was he recommended by the Minister of Innovation, who is, of course, a member of Prime Minister Trudeau’s cabinet? Or was he appointed by Prime Minister Trudeau’s family?