Calls for an investigation after Trudeau takes controversial holiday
Posted January 9, 2017 9:42 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA, ON. (NEWS 1130) – The federal ethics commissioner has been asked to investigate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent vacation to the Bahamas, after it was discovered his family stayed as guests on the Aga Khan’s private island for part of their winter holidays.
The Aga Khan, who is a spiritual leader for Ismaili Muslims, has been a friend of the Trudeau family for years and his foundation has received federal funding for initiatives like improving child and maternal health.
Conservative MP and leadership candidate Andrew Scheer says he has asked the ethics commissioner to step in because he believes Trudeau shouldn’t be receiving benefits that could influence him. “The Aga Khan has a foundation that receives — I believe it’s about $30 million from the [federal] government every year — and here we have the prime minister accepting the gift of a luxury, Caribbean beach vacation. It seems to me that’s in direct violation of the [Conflict of Interest] Act.”
But another portion of the act states MP’s can accept gifts from friends or family.
The prime minister’s office says he is reimbursing taxpayers for the cost of the flight down to the Bahamas. It’s not clear if the ethics commissioner will actually launch an investigation.
Scheer is asking for Canadians to sign an online petition if they think Trudeau should be investigated.
