Canada's Justin Trudeau faces ethics probe over Bahamas trip -media

REUTERS

 

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a news conference on Parliament Hill following a cabinet shuffle in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Wattie

 

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's ethics watchdog is investigating Justin Trudeau for potential breaches related to his recent holiday on an island owned by the Aga Khan, the first time a prime minister has faced such scrutiny, media reported on Monday.

 

Trudeau has been confronted with repeated questions from the opposition about his vacation in the Bahamas over the New Year's holiday and said last week that he had flown there by private helicopter.

 

In a letter to a Conservative lawmaker on Jan. 13, Mary Dawson, the federal conflict of interest and ethics commissioner, said she has begun an examination to determine whether Trudeau has contravened the Conflict of Interest Act, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported.

 

In the letter, Dawson acknowledged concerns about potential breaches related to the use of the private helicopter and the Aga Khan Foundation's lobbying of the government, the Globe said.

 

Official ethics rules introduced by Trudeau himself in 2015 bar government ministers from taking private flights without getting Dawson's approval.

 

A Trudeau spokesman declined to comment on whether an examination has been launched and said the prime minister will answer any of Dawson's questions. A spokeswoman for the ethics commissioner did not immediately comment.

 

Trudeau is facing a separate probe by Dawson into fundraising by his Liberal party, but an examination into the trip would be the first such investigation of a prime minister, said Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch.

 

The Aga Khan, the wealthy leader of the Ismaili branch of Shi'ite Islam, is a close Trudeau family friend. The Aga Khan Foundation Canada is a registered lobbyist with the government and its executives met with government officials as recently as December.

In an apparent bid to reconnect with ordinary voters, Trudeau, who came to power in 2015 and has enjoyed high popularity ratings, scrapped a trip to this week's World Economic Focum in Davos and embarked on a cross-country tour instead.

 

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Paul Simao)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-17

Entitlement....

This guy is a joke...all the talk about Trump being elected as a media figure...but at least Trump held jobs with more responsibility and rigor...both of them are entitled jerks...fame, entitlement, and competence are now conflated in the public mind...which is a shame for education, government, and art...

You have to like the fact that his privileged position offers no protection. 

1 hour ago, chilli42 said:

You have to like the fact that his privileged position offers no protection. 

 

Let's wait and see the outcome.

 

He clearly believes he makes the rules - which others have to follow. But not him of course.

 

So, a close family friend a registered lobbyist provides a private helicopter flight and luxury holiday. All above board. No hint of bribery here, move on.

It is to be hoped that Canadians have more sense than to kick out the best PM in 40 years over an error of judgement.

On 1/16/2017 at 10:43 PM, Prbkk said:

It is to be hoped that Canadians have more sense than to kick out the best PM in 40 years over an error of judgement.

 

From wikipedia....Jr's qualifications to run Canada into the ground...and he is doing a great job at that...

 

''Born in Ottawa, Trudeau attended Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and graduated from McGill University in 1994 and the University of British Columbia in 1998. He gained a high public profile in October 2000, when he delivered a eulogy at his father's state funeral.^[5] After graduating, he worked as a teacher in Vancouver, British Columbia. He completed one year of an engineering program at Montreal's École Polytechnique before quitting in 2003. In 2005 he began a master's degree in environmental geography at McGill University but quit after one year. He used his public profile to advocate for various causes and acted in the 2007 TV miniseries The Great War.^[6] ''

 

He was a fuking drama teacher in Vancouver....the two qualification that he has to run this country....he has his daddy's last name...and his mommy banged Mik Jagger back in the day...