The Banks, Corporations, And Foundations That Donated To The Century Initiative Lobby In 2023

In August of last year, I published an article titled “Who Funds The Century Initiative?” that listed various organizations which had donated to the Century Initiative in 2022. It garnered considerable attention, so this year I am publishing another summary based on the 2023 Annual Report available on the Century Initiative’s website. In fact, I will be making this an annual tradition – until the Century Initiative takes the hint that their project is wildly unpopular, and dissolves itself.

For those unaware, the Century Initiative is a registered Canadian charity and lobby founded by Dominic Barton and Mark Wiseman. The organization’s central goal is to raise the national population to 100 million by 2100. Dominic Barton chaired Trudeau’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth, with Mark Wiseman serving as a member. In 2016, the council recommended that Canada’s immigration rate be dramatically increased. A Radio Canada report revealed that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) was quickly instructed to take this number as a foundational plan.

Without further ado, here’s the list for 2023:

Banking sector

• BMO
• TD Bank
• Scotiabank
• CIBC

*This year, the Century Initiative has gained a contributor in the banking sector – CIBC wasn’t listed in the 2022 Annual Report. BMO, TD Bank, and Scotiabank are repeat contributors. Is your bank on the list?

Corporate sector

• Power Corporation of Canada: A management and holding company, with holdings in insurance, retirement, wealth management and investment management.

*The Century Initiative has lost a notable contributor from the corporate sector: the Business Council of Canada! Did the council have a Road to Damascus conversion? Did they feel the heat of public opinion? It’s unclear. One other missing contributor from this sector is AGT Food and Ingredients, a huge Canadian processor of pulses and other ingredients. Its founder, Murad Al-Katib, used to be a Century Initiative board member, but is no longer listed as such.

Foundations

• Quarrywood Foundation: This foundation has very little information available about it. The president is Mark Wiseman, who co-founded the Century Initiative with Dominic Barton.
• Lynwood Family Foundation: The Lynwood Family Foundation also has very little information about it online. The president is Sarah Milroy, and its secretary and treasurer is Thomas Milroy – the vice chair and treasurer of the Century Initiative.
• Srinarayanathas Foundation: In 2022, the Srinarayanathas family foundation pledged $300,000 over three years to the Century Initiative.
• Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Family Foundation: This is a family foundation based in Toronto.

*All four of these foundations also contributed to the Century Initiative last year.