The Montreal college that was promised an $800,000 donation as a part of an alleged plot by the Chinese authorities to affect Justin Trudeau says the pledge got here at a unique time in Canada-China relations.
Université de Montreal spokesman Jeff Heinrich says that when the donation was introduced in 2016, scientific and financial relations between the 2 international locations had been extra open and there was no suggestion of doable hyperlinks to political interference.
The Globe and Mail, citing an unnamed nationwide safety supply, printed a report alleging that Chinese billionaire Zhang Bin was instructed in 2014 to donate $1 million in honour of Pierre Elliott Trudeau as a part of a plan to affect his son.
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation mentioned Wednesday it’s going to return the $200,000 donation obtained from the billionaire and one other Chinese businessman, Niu Gensheng.
Pascale Fournier, basis president and CEO, confirmed the prime minister has not been concerned with the group since changing into chief.
Heinrich says the college obtained $550,000 to create a scholarship named on behalf of the 2 Chinese businessmen, including {that a} remaining fee of $250,000 was by no means obtained.
He didn’t instantly return a request for remark right this moment on whether or not the college would additionally return the cash.
— With a file from Global News’ Annabelle Olivier
