The philanthropist who rescinded a $1-million donation to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health says the organization demonstrated an “attitude of entitlement” that ultimately led to his decision.

Now, Andrew Faas, the founder of The Faas Foundation, wants CAMH to return the first $330,000 instalment of his donation, which he believes wasn’t even spent.

“I’m not a scientist or a researcher, but I’ve spent the bulk of my career managing complex projects and I know when work is done and when work is not done,” said Faas, a former executive with Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaws. “What I got was a bunch of gobbledygook just to appease me, stating that work had been done.”

The $1-million commitment to CAMH was part of a larger project to “create psychologically healthy and safe and fair workplaces” by addressing the mental health concerns of employees, Faas said.

He had also donated to Mental Health America and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence as part of the project, which was to be rolled out over three years through annual donations.

Faas said he was clear from the outset that CAMH’s role was to research and produce “evidence-based solutions,” zeroing in on how to prevent and treat issues of mental health in the workplace, while Yale’s research would focus on cultural transformation and organizational change. Mental Health America’s role would be to implement the programs Yale and CAMH designed.

But Faas said CAMH indicated it was unwilling to work collaboratively with those other groups.

“They took a very elitist attitude and said, ‘Well, they do research differently than we do,’” he said. “It was my desire to make this a joint Canada-U.S. initiative and that opportunity got lost, and it’s unfortunate.”

About a year into the project, Faas said, he struggled to see his vision being carried out by CAMH. When he questioned how they were using the funds, he said the organization indicated the donation would be used for implementation of some of their own work.

“I did not donate the money for implementation. I donated the money to create something that was transformational and evidence-based,” he said. I view my donations . . . as investments. There has to be more of a purpose than just building up a general fund.”

He said the organization indicated it would revisit its approach after he expressed his frustration. Two months later, CAMH told him the funds he donated were already spent and the previous conversation had been a misunderstanding, he said.

“I seriously questioned the credibility of the organization,” Faas said. “If you can’t account for where those donations are directed in a specific way, then you shouldn’t be asking for the money.”

CAMH declined to comment.

In a previous statement to the Star, CAMH said it provides donors with accountability reports, timelines and updates on donor-supported projects. CAMH said it “stands by the progress made in the first year.”

“We continue to work towards re-establishing Mr. Faas’ satisfaction as to the value of his gift and in the work undertaken with his support,” the statement read. “We believe that, once completed, the initiative has the potential to positively influence workplace mental health across Canada.”

Faas said the remainder of his $1-million commitment to CAMH will be donated to the other two partners involved in the project. He also wants CAMH to return the first instalment of $333,000 it received, which would be divided between Mental Health America and the Yale centre.

“What really irks me is an attitude of entitlement,” he said. “There’s a limited amount of donation dollars kicking around and it doesn’t near meet the needs that are out there. Other organizations would have gone to extreme lengths to get this kind of donation.”

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As employers themselves, CAMH said in its previous statement it “looked forward” to improving workplace mental health initiatives for its own employees through the development of this program.

In July, CAMH pleaded guilty to a workplace safety charge related to the 2014 beating of a nurse by a patient. The hospital was ordered to pay an $80,000 fine for violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act by failing to develop, establish and put in place measures and procedures to protect the health and safety of workers.

“Knowing what we know about CAMH and the instances of violence, threats, attacks and just fear in the workplace, we know that what is referred to broadly as ‘psychological safety’ . . . it’s absolutely right for a place like this,” said Andy Summers, of the Ontario Nurses’ Association. “This is a place that should be focusing on it.”