Did Trudeau use a loophole to avoid accusations of fraud in the Aga Khan affair, conservatives ask

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Interim opposition leader Candice Bergen wants to know if Trudeau used his power as prime minister to allow himself to accept gifts

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April 26, 2022 • 5 hours ago • 2 minutes reading • 116 comments Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets Aga Khan on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 17, 2016. RCMP investigates Trudeau’s trip to the private island of Aga Khan for a family vacation .

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OTTOVA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is still haunted by questions about family vacations six years ago on the private island of Aga Khan in the Bahamas.

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On Tuesday, interim opposition leader Candice Bergen asked if he had used his power as prime minister to allow himself to accept the gifts.

A provision in the Penal Code states that civil servants cannot accept gifts from someone who has a relationship with the government unless they have received written consent from the head of their branch of government, who in this case would be the prime minister.

RCMP internal documents indicate that the force was considering launching a fraud investigation after details of the trip came to light, but cited a number of reasons for not doing so, including the fact that neither parliament nor the ethics commissioner chose to take the case to the police.

If Trudeau gives his written consent, there will be no case of fraud on the part of the government, the RCMP concluded, but the documents state that they do not know if this has happened.

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1. Conservatives want RCMP to investigate Trudeau’s trips to Aga Khan Island

2. Chris Sally: Trudeau and Shear still do not understand that the perception of conflict is a reality

When Bergen asked on Tuesday if Trudeau had used that loophole to avoid accusation, he said no.

“The RCMP addressed this issue and there was no political interference around it. They came to their own conclusion; there was nothing to persecute, “Trudeau told the House.

Bergen went on to ask if Trudeau would agree to interview the RCMP about the $ 215,000 gift. He did not answer.

The Ethics Commissioner found in 2017 that Trudeau had violated the rules of conflict of interest and that he had to admit that the trip would be considered a conflict.

The Commissioner’s report and the information used to compile it cannot be used as evidence in court if criminal charges have arisen – another reason for the RCMP to choose not to prosecute.

Trudeau is the first Canadian prime minister to break the rules of conflict of interest while in office.