REALity March 2018 –

Trudeau is the first Prime Minister in Canadian history to be found guilty of breaking a federal law …, and showed the same arrogance that he exhibited when he refused to put an end to the Liberals’ shameless ‘cash-for-access’ scheme whereby wealthy individuals and corporate heads met privately with Trudeau upon paying a generous sum of money to the Liberal party. To Trudeau, it’s all just the perks of the office.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau believes that he has been anointed as a special person, and that, as a result, he does not have to follow any rules or guidelines relating to ethical behaviour that others must follow.

With this in mind, unknown to the public, Trudeau and his family have made their private, secret visits to the luxurious estate of the Aga Khan, in Bells Cay in the Bahamas. The Aga Khan is Chairman and Director of the organization Aga Khan Foundation Canada and a registered Lobbyist in Ottawa. His organization has received $482 million since 1981 from the federal government. In the 2017 budget, the Aga Khan’s Foundation received $47 million from the federal government. Trudeau also sat in on two meetings focused on a federal grant to the Aga Khan Foundation.

Trudeau and his family’s visits to the Aga Khan’s Private Island took place on March 16 2014, December 2014, and December 2016. It was not until the December 2016 visit that the Prime Minister and his circle were caught concealing these free holiday trips to the Aga Khan’s home.

It seems that in regard to the December 2016 visit, Trudeau’s wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau had written the Aga Khan’s daughter, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, requesting the opportunity to spend her family’s Christmas Holidays on Aga Khan’s Island. Oh yes, she also invited a few of her friends to come along as well. These friends included Liberal Minister of Veteran’s Affairs, Seamus O’Regan, first elected in 2015 for St. Johns South- Mount Pearl, and former CTV Broadcaster, with his “wife” Stelios (Steve) Doussis, as well as Liberal Party President, Anna Gainey and her husband, Tom Pitfield. The latter is a childhood friend of Trudeau. The Trudeau delegation spent a week at the Aga Khan’s, who is an Imam, and is the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.5 million Ismaili Muslims.

Although these visits were highly secretive, the National Post found out about them, and demanded an accounting by Trudeau. Trudeau at first denied that he had breached provisions of the Conflict of Interest Act by these visits, arguing that the Act allows for gifts from “friends” and the Aga Khan was a long-time “friend” of his. Upon investigation however it was discovered by the Ethics Commissioner, Mary Dawson, that Trudeau had had no contact with the Aga Khan since his childhood, during the last 30 years. It was only when Trudeau became Liberal leader in 2015, that the Aga Khan contacted him. It was undoubtedly useful for the Aga Khan to contact a young politician on the make. That is, the Aga Khan was an effective operator who successfully nurtured his relationships to help finance his Foundation. Trudeau however apparently did not have any problem staying at the Aga Khan’s luxurious estate, even though his government was generously contributing to Aga Khan Foundation.

Andrew Scheer, Conservative opposition leader, laid a complaint with the Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson, about Trudeau’s secret visits to the Aga Khan’s home. The Commissioner concluded that Trudeau had violated four regulations in the Conflict of Interest Act, these include:

• Accepting gifts that could influence decision-making;
• Not recusing himself from discussions that could further private interests;
• Failing to arrange his private affairs to avoid this opportunity; and
• Accepting travel on a non-commercial aircraft (The Aga Khan’s private helicopter) contrary to regulations

In addition, Trudeau seems to have also violated the Criminal Code provision, Sec 121 (1) (c) which makes it an offence for any official of a government to accept “from a person who has dealings with a government … a reward, advantage or benefit of any kind.” No charges were laid against Trudeau for this apparent violation of the Criminal Code.

Trudeau is the first Prime Minister in Canadian history to be found guilty of breaking a federal law.

Also, the Conflict of Interest Act does not provide for any meaningful penalties for violations. Consequently, Trudeau, in effect, got off Scott free for his holiday on this Island.

He was not the least bit contrite about it, and showed the same arrogance that he exhibited when he refused initially to put an end to the Liberals’ shameless “cash-for-access” scheme whereby wealthy individuals and corporate heads met privately with Trudeau upon paying a generous sum of money to the Liberal party. To Trudeau, it’s all just the perks of the office.

The Conservative opposition party tried to hold Trudeau accountable for this breach of ethics by requesting he appear before the House of Commons Ethics Committee for questioning. This was blocked by the Liberal majority on the Committee.

The Conservatives are also demanding that Trudeau pay back to the taxpayers the amount of $200,000 for his pricey trip to the Aga Khan’s private island. This sum includes the cost of RCMP security, the use of the Canadian Challenger jet, and the Prime Minister’s Office support staff – who were all present during the Bahamian holiday. Their expenses were all paid for by the taxpayer.

Will Trudeau pay the amount that he owes the taxpayers? Not likely. Trudeau is not sorry for his breach of ethics and of the Criminal Code. He just seems to be sorry the public found out about it.

Trudeau’s moral compass is obviously not in working order.