In response to the Opposition’s allegations about Liberal “cash-for-access” fundraisers, the federal ethics watchdog has suggested that she will question Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about his involvement in the events.
Earlier this month, Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose asked ethics commissioner Mary Dawson and lobbying commissioner Karen Shepherd to investigate certain fundraising events attended by Trudeau this year.
Ambrose alleged that individuals at those fundraisers received special access to Trudeau and some senior Liberals, which may violate the Conflict of Interest Act and the Lobbying Act.
In response, Dawson wrote that the information Ambrose provided “is not sufficient to cause me to initiate an examination under the Act this time.”
However, Dawson said that Ambrose’s letter and media reports about the fundraisers have left her with “concerns.”
“Consequently, I will follow up with Mr. Trudeau regarding his involvement with the fundraising events,” Dawson wrote in her letter to Ambrose, dated Dec. 13.
Dawson also wrote that she will “follow up” with Liberal MP Bill Blair, who serves as the parliamentary secretary to the justice minister, about his “interactions” with people involved in the Cannabis Friendly Business Association during a fundraising event in April.
Blair, the former Toronto police chief, has been the federal government’s point person on the marijuana legalization file.
One of the fundraisers Ambrose flagged with the ethics and lobbying watchdogs occurred in May. Ambrose alleged, in her formal complaint, that Trudeau interacted at that event with Thomas Liu, a Toronto businessman who has “significant” financial interests in canola exports to China. At that time, the Chinese and Canadian governments were in ongoing negotiations about the canola exports.
Ambrose has also alleged that Trudeau solicited funds on behalf of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundationtoo, which bears his late father’s name, at the same event. Trudeau has already said that his involvement with the foundation ended years ago.
Under attack from Conservative and NDP MPs in the House of Commons this month, Trudeau has also defended a $1,500-per-ticket fundraiser he attended in Montreal in September. Trudeau has repeatedly stated that he and his cabinet ministers have not broken any rules.
Facing more questions from reporters on Thursday, Trudeau said his government has “very strict” rules on fundraising “and no one is suggesting that we are not following those rules.”
“We will always work with the ethics commissioner and anyone else who has questions of this government,” he said in Ottawa. “We look forward to making sure we provide answers to anyone who is asking us questions about particular aspects of this government’s functioning.”
Trudeau also said he is “committed to demonstrating to Canadians that the confidence they’ve placed in me and in our government is well placed.”
With files from The Canadian Press
