The Conservatives said Friday they want a criminal investigation into the Liberal government's decision to have the WE organization run a $900-million program for student volunteers.
Their call for police to step in comes after it was revealed that the group has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees to members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's family.
"The revelation that $350,000 in cash was paid by this organization to immediate members of Justin Trudeau's family, that organization that he awarded a sole-sourced $1 billion contract to, that revelation raises the need for the police to take a look at it," Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett said Friday.
And Trudeau's wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau received $1,400 in 2012 for a single appearance that year. "Justin Trudeau has never been paid by WE Charity or ME to WE Social Enterprise for any speeches or any other matters," WE Charity said. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said late Thursday that Trudeau should step aside until the matter is fully probed, turning power over to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
The section of the Criminal Code the Conservatives are suggesting could apply in this case is the same one that was once used to charge former Conservative senator Mike Duffy in the Senate expenses scandal.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Conservatives call for criminal investigation of WE Charity contractMembers of parliament are asking for a RCMP investigation under the criminal code, which covers government fraud
Read more »
Tories Call For Criminal Investigation Into WE Charity ScandalJustin Trudeau is facing an ethics probe for a potential conflict of interest over a $900-million government contract with the group.
Read more »
Police say N.L. man found dead on street in St. John's was killed by gunfireNewfoundland police say they are investigating suspects in the killing of a 47-year-old man found dead on a residential street in St. John's last weekend.
Read more »