Another Day, Another Corruption Scandal For Liberal Leader

Justin Trudeau
Photo credit Chris J Ratcliffe / Getty Images

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces yet another corruption scandal as he apologized Monday for approving a federal aid program to a private organization that has made payments to his family of at least $220,000.

According to Canadian outlet Globe and Mail, Trudeau is now hearing bipartisan calls for him to testify before parliament over his involvement in the decision by the federal government to grant a $664 million contract - which has since been canceled - to We Charity, a group that has paid Trudeau's family members for speaking appearances on multiple occasions.

"I made a mistake in not recusing myself immediately from the discussions, given our family's history, and I'm sincerely sorry about not having done that," Trudeau said at a press conference.

Trudeau and Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau offered apologies Monday for not recusing themselves from the decision due to conflict of interest. Trudeau's wife, mother, and brother have all been paid on separate occasions to participate in We Charity events and Morneau's daughter is a contract employee at the organization, Globe and Mail reports.

Canada's Conservative Party is now asking for a criminal investigation into the incident to determine whether fraud was committed in the decision to grant a federal contract to the charity.

This marks the third ethics investigation of Trudeau's tenure as prime minister, which began in 2015. If convicted, it would also mark the third time he has violated the Conflict of Interest Act.

In 2017, Trudeau used taxpayer money to take a vacation to a private island owned by billionaire Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims. Last year, the Liberal prime minister tried to protect engineering company SNC-Lavalin from being prosecuted for corruption.