Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Trudeau defends Jamaica trip as committee agrees to seek ethics watchdog's testimony

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Jan, 2024 01:03 PM
  • Trudeau defends Jamaica trip as committee agrees to seek ethics watchdog's testimony

A House of Commons committee intends to seek testimony from the federal ethics watchdog on rules regarding gifts, vacations and travel as controversy swirls around Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent trip to Jamaica. 

Members of Parliament on the Commons ethics committee agreed to invite interim commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein to testify at the earliest opportunity once the House comes back from a winter break at the end of the month. 

A spokesperson for von Finckenstein says his office will facilitate a time for him to appear, and that he is "always available and responsive to the needs of Parliament."

The Opposition had pushed for a special meeting Wednesday to discuss a potential probe of Trudeau's vacation. 

Liberal MPs got on board with the idea of asking von Finckenstein to appear, so long as his testimony would include a detailed explanation of the travel rules that are laid out in the Conflict of Interest Act. 

It's important for people to see how the system works so they can maintain trust in their democratic institutions, said Liberal MP Mona Fortier. 

Early this month, Trudeau's office said the prime minister's family was staying at a location owned by family friends at no cost, after earlier saying the family would cover the cost of their stay.

Trudeau's office said he consulted with the ethics commissioner and the family would reimburse the public for the expense of travelling on a government plane.

"Like a lot of Canadian families, we went to stay with friends for the Christmas holidays. All the rules were followed," Trudeau said Wednesday in French during a news conference in New Brunswick.

Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett said everyone is entitled to a vacation, but the problem is the changing narrative coming from the Prime Minister's Office. 

"This is incredibly problematic," Barrett said. 

He said he wants to know whether Trudeau misled von Finckenstein in seeking advice about the trip. 

"As per standard practice, the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner was consulted prior to the travel to ensure that the rules were followed," a spokesperson for the prime minister, Mohammad Hussain, said in a statement last week. 

"Any allegation that we would mislead the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is categorically false."

Barrett said he asked the acting commissioner's office for its communications with Trudeau's office about the trip, but his request was denied. 

And rightfully so, Liberal MP Pam Damoff argued during a committee hearing Wednesday. Such conversations need to remain private so that politicians can feel comfortable when seeking advice, Damoff said. 

The Conflict of Interest Act allows politicians to accept gifts and other advantages only from relatives or family friends with whom they have a well-documented close bond. Trudeau ran afoul of that rule when he was a guest of the Aga Khan in late 2016. 

It's time for the rules to change, New Democrats argue. 

"The Liberals and Conservatives both point fingers at each other when they both get favours from their rich friends but then refuse to change the rules as it benefits both of them and the ultra-rich," NDP House leader Peter Julian said in a statement. 

"New Democrats want to see a review of the Conflict of Interest Act to actually crack down on corporate and lobbyist influence in politics, so it's everyday Canadians who get ahead, not the ultra-wealthy."

Earlier this month, the National Post reported that Trudeau was staying at a luxury estate owned by his longtime friend Peter Green. The Canadian Press has not independently verified the information, and officials have declined to confirm where Trudeau was staying. 

Liberal MPs said they weren't opposed to the idea of inviting acting commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein to testify, so long as he explains how the travel rules in the law are supposed to work. 

Any investigation demands a deeper understanding of the law to avoid damaging the public trust, Fortier said. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Immigration minister welcomes news Canadians can get tourist visas to India again

Immigration minister welcomes news Canadians can get tourist visas to India again
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says he's happy to hear that Canadians can once again apply online for tourist visas to India after two months of diplomatic tensions. The decision, which is effective as of today, was confirmed in a statement on social media by the High Commission of India in Ottawa. 

Immigration minister welcomes news Canadians can get tourist visas to India again

India restores e-visa services for Canadian nationals, easing diplomatic row between the 2 countries

India restores e-visa services for Canadian nationals, easing diplomatic row between the 2 countries
India restored electronic visa services for Canadian nationals, an Indian foreign ministry official said Wednesday, two months after Canada alleged the South Asian nation was involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada. The electronic visa was back in order on Wednesday, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to reporters.  

India restores e-visa services for Canadian nationals, easing diplomatic row between the 2 countries

Province to launch website to seek public input on South Asian museum

Province to launch website to seek public input on South Asian museum
The B-C government says it will launch a website to seek public input on a new museum that would highlight the history, culture and contributions of South Asian heritages in the province.  Lana Popham, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, says public input, especially from South Asian communities, is vital to creating a first-of-its-kind museum.

Province to launch website to seek public input on South Asian museum

24 properties evacuated as precarious rock looms over Penticton homes

24 properties evacuated as precarious rock looms over Penticton homes
The City of Penticton says it has temporarily evacuated 24 properties in a mobile home park over fears of a potential rock slide. The city says it was notified on Tuesday morning about a large rock that may break off a cliff, and a geotechnical engineer's review prompted the evacuation of the properties in the Pleasant Valley Mobile Home Park.   

24 properties evacuated as precarious rock looms over Penticton homes

2nd degree murder charge laid in death of 18 year old Mehakpreet Sethi

2nd degree murder charge laid in death of 18 year old Mehakpreet Sethi
A second-degree murder charge has been laid in the death of an 18-year-old outside a Surrey high school last year. Homicide investigators say an 18-year-old man has been charged, but his name won’t be released because he was a youth at the time of the death.

2nd degree murder charge laid in death of 18 year old Mehakpreet Sethi

B.C. unfairly clawed back COVID-19 benefit to thousands during pandemic, says report

B.C. unfairly clawed back COVID-19 benefit to thousands during pandemic, says report
Thousands of people in British Columbia saw their $1,000 tax-free COVID-19 benefit unfairly clawed back by the provincial government, says an ombudsperson report. So far, 12,000 people have been told to repay their B.C. Emergency Benefit that the government said was for workers who had been affected by the pandemic, Ombudsperson Jay Chalke said Tuesday. 

B.C. unfairly clawed back COVID-19 benefit to thousands during pandemic, says report