PM Justin Trudeau is no stranger to scandal and breaking rules that are supposed to check politicians. The infamous WE Charity scandal — in which the PM was caught funneling money — is perhaps the best example.
However, beyond the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, several of his Ministers have also been in hot water recently over conflicts of interest and their own little scandals.
This ongoing typhoon of rule-breaking has gotten so bad that on September 2, the Commissioner was compelled to reprimand the entire cabinet personally.
In a tweet, the Commissioner felt the need to post Section 16 of their laws, highlighting the description that explains what a conflict of interest is — because apparently, none of Trudeau’s appointed Ministers have a clue.
“You are prohibited from personally soliciting funds from any person or organization if doing so would place you in a conflict of interest,” the law reads.
“You are in a conflict of interest when you exercise an official power, duty or function that provides an opportunity to further your private interests or those of your relatives or friends or to improperly further another person’s private interests.”
Ministers, #COIAct rules still apply to you during the election campaign. You can’t personally solicit funds if it puts you in a #ConflictOfInterest. Includes receiving funds from a stakeholder. https://t.co/7p7xXmrVt3 #Elxn44 #ItsOurVote pic.twitter.com/lbYm6PK1Se
— Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner (@EthicsCanada) September 2, 2021
In May, the Commissioner found that Finance Minister Bill Morneau is a friend of the Kielburger brothers — activists who founded the WE Charity. He noted that “There is no doubt that Mr. Kielburger’s interests would have been furthered had WE administered the CSSG. The WE Charity was the lone administrator of the CSSG and would have acquired a significant financial interest for its role.”
In June, (now former) Liberal MP Yasmin Ratansi violated a Conflict of Interest by employing her foster sister for years. For this transgression, Ratansi later paid over $9,000 for breaching parliamentary rules.
On August 31, two days ago, the Commissioner doled out a $250 penalty to Connor Moen, Special Assistant of Parliamentary Affairs to Liberal Justice Minister David Lametti, for failure to material change relating to outside activities.
Connor Moen, Special Assist. Parl. Affairs to Justice Minister @MinJusticeEn, received a $250 #penalty from the #EthicsCommissioner for failing to disclose within 30 days a material change relating to outside activities. https://t.co/XO15zsnc5k #CdnPoli #Transparency pic.twitter.com/lpwSNRQCQX
— Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner (@EthicsCanada) August 31, 2021
And the list goes on.
With things heating up in the federal election, it is unclear if the Liberal cabinet will abide by this warning or keep moving forward with their casual tit-for-tat activities.
