On June 25^th, the federal government, in partnership with the WE Charity, launched the Canada Student Service Grant. The grant was intended to serve as an opportunity for post-secondary and just-graduated students to volunteer with registered non-profit organizations who provide services to their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In exchange, the program offered students an opportunity to receive grants between $1,000 to $5,000 for their hours worked.

The Trudeau government is under scrutiny for delivering the WE organization a sole-source contract, designating the WE Organization as the responsible body for grant distribution.

However, since the program was unveiled, questions have arisen in regards to the rationale behind selecting WE as the responsible organization for grant distribution.

Similarly, concerns have also be raised due to the ties between the WE Organization and high-profile members of the Trudeau government, in forms such as paid speaking engagements and service trips. In response to these concerns, an Ethics investigation has been launched.

Through Finance Committee proceedings, it has been discovered that the Trudeau government was planning to pay WE $43.5 million to administer the program, over twice the amount previously indicated. As well, it has also been discovered that the contract was awarded to WE Charity Foundation, a separate entity from WE Charity, one that only received charity status last year and whose stated purpose is to “hold real estate”.

As a result of ongoing proceedings and investigations, the program has been put on hold.

For more information on the ongoing proceedings, click here.

On July 8th, Finance Minister Bill Morneau unveiled a formal economic and fiscal ‘snapshot’. COVID-19 and the subsequent shut-down have had significant impacts on the Canadian economy. As a result, it was announced that the Canadian deficit would rise to $343.2 billion this year, with the federal debt exceeding $1.2 trillion by the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year.