The former parliamentary ethics watchdog that found Prime Minister Justin Trudeau guilty of violating the ethics act for vacationing on a private island owned by the Aga Khan says the prime minister may have a “blind spot” when it comes to ethical matters.
The former parliamentary ethics watchdog who found Prime Minister Justin Trudeau guilty of violating the Conflict of Interest Act for vacationing on a private island owned by the Aga Khan says the prime minister may have a “blind spot” when it comes to ethical matters.
“One doesn’t continue to do the same thing twice,” Mary Dawson told CBC News Network’s Power & Politics today. “There seems to be a little bit of a blind spot or something there.”
Late last month, Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion launched an investigation into Trudeau’s role in the government’s decision to choose WE Charity — which has ties to Trudeau’s family — to administer a $900 million summer student grant program.
The charity and the federal government have since parted ways on the project.
Trudeau and his mother, Margaret, have appeared at a number of WE Day events, while Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, hosts a podcast for the group called “WE Well-being.”
Watch: Former conflict of interest and ethics commissioner Mary Dawson on the WE Charity controversy:
Power & Politics speaks to former conflict of interest and ethics commissioner Mary Dawson about the WE Charity controversy. 8:21
Initially, WE Charity said members of the Trudeau family were not paid for appearing at WE events, although Sophie Grégoire Trudeau had been reimbursed for travel expenses.
Late last week, it emerged that Trudeau’s mother Margaret has was paid approximately $250,000 for speaking at 28 events, while his brother Alexandre spoke at eight events and received about $32,000
Conservative MP Michael Barrett and NDP MP Charlie Angus separately wrote to Dion’s office asking him to exam