OTTAWA — The Université de Montreal says in a statement that it is considering all options in light of new information about a $750,000 donation it received in 2016 that reportedly had ties to Beijing.
The Globe and Mail had reported in February, citing an unnamed source, that the Chinese government orchestrated donations to the university and to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation in hopes of influencing Justin Trudeau.
In response, the foundation promised to return a $200,000 donation that came from two Chinese businessmen.
But on Tuesday, the foundation's board of directors and president resigned, saying the politicization of the charity made it "impossible to continue with the status quo."
Montreal-based La Presse reported Wednesday that the charity was not able to return the money it received from Zhang Bin's Golden Eagle International Media Co. Ltd., which ultimately amounted to $140,000.
The Globe and Mail reported the Trudeau Foundation is now launching an independent review of its decision to accept the donation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023.
The Canadian Press
