Former Finance Minister’s Thank You Letter to WEF Suggests More Collaboration Than Disclosed

Close interactions between Canadian cabinet ministers and the World Economic Forum are well-documented, but a newly revealed letter suggests forum staff may have been doing more work with the federal government than previously disclosed. In an undated letter to a WEF official, former Finance Minister Bill Morneau praised the organization and its collaboration to achieve “common” objectives. “I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the WEF staff, for the support provided to the Government of Canada,” wrote Mr. Morneau in the letter obtained through the access to information regime. Neither the WEF nor the Canadian government typically advertise what support the forum provides. The finance department has not returned a request for information about the date of the letter and details of how WEF staff helped the government....