UMontréal to keep donation, unable to confirm allegations of political interference

Université de Montreal recently announced that it will keep a donation it received in 2016 that was linked to an alleged plot to influence Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Global News reports that the university was unable to confirm the allegations, and UMontréal rector Daniel Jutras stated that repaying the money would require the university to convince the Quebec Superior Court to void the gift “on the basis of some form of defect of consent or impersonation.” Only $550K of the promised donation was ever received, and Global reports that the university is considering reallocating the remaining $507K in funds to support initiatives under a broader theme of democracy and international relations.