The Caisse de depot et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and Investissement Québec (IQ) have, in recent years, poured more than 188,520 dollars into the coffers of the Canada-China Business Council (CCBC).

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This non-profit organization was created by the Desmarais clan.

These were membership, subscription and participation fees.

“The CDPQ is involved with many associations and groups from various business communities in Quebec and internationally. In all this year, we have several dozen subscriptions of this type, "said Caisse spokesperson Kate Monfette.

No funding

"This is not organization funding: associations and business groups are not eligible for Investissement Québec funding," said IQ spokesperson Catherine Salvail.

In 11 years, the Caisse has spent $135,000 on membership fees. Investissement Québec has, in 14 years, paid more than $53,520 in membership fees and participation in events. The combined total, for Caisse and IQ, is $188,520.

You have to pay $15,000 plus tax a year to be a "benefactor" member of the Council, frequented by ex-ministers and corporate executives.

Power Corporation

The founding president of the Canada-China Business Council is the late Paul Desmarais senior, close to the Liberals, who was at the head of Power Corporation.

The CCBC board of directors is chaired by Olivier Desmarais, senior vice-president of Power Corporation, and its honorary president is André Desmarais, deputy chairman of the board of Power Corporation and spouse of France Chrétien, daughter of Jean Chrétien.

CCBC vice-presidents include Martin Cauchon, former federal justice minister, and Scott Brison, former Treasury Board president.

The Canada-China Business Council is headquartered in Toronto on Bay Street.

Reached by Le Journal, the CCBC did not answer our questions.