Canadian political scandal
The Trudeau cash-for-access scandal is a political scandal arising from newspaper reports in 2016 that Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau had been attending cash-for-access events at the homes of wealthy Chinese-Canadians in Toronto and Vancouver , generating a political scandal.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] Attendees at these events, including attendees with connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), would pay up to $1,525 per ticket to meet Trudeau. In response, the Liberal Party of Canada indicated that all party fundraising complied with Elections Canada rules and regulations.[ 5]
Although such cash-for-access events were reported as appearing to violate Trudeau's "Open and Accountable Government" rules about lobbying and fundraising,[ 6] Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson interviewed Trudeau and determined that no rules were broken, without releasing a report.[ 7] [ 2] Dawson's office defended the lack of a report by stating that Dawson had not opened a formal investigation, which would have legally required the commissioner to issue a public report under the Conflict of Interest Act .[ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
^ Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven (2 December 2016). "Influential Chinese-Canadians paying to attend private fundraisers with Trudeau" . The Globe and Mail . Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ a b Kassam, Ashifa (15 December 2016). "Trudeau to be questioned by ethics watchdog over reports of cash for access" . The Guardian . Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ "Trudeau government faces 'cash-for-access' criticism" . BBC News . 23 November 2016. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven (13 December 2016). "Justin Trudeau says he uses cash-for-access fundraisers to champion the middle class" . The Globe and Mail . Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ Zimonjic, Peter (Nov 22, 2016). "Trudeau defends fundraiser with Chinese businessman who later donated $200,000 to father's foundation" . www.cbc.ca . CBC News . Archived from the original on 2016-11-23. Retrieved 29 May 2023 .
^ Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven (22 November 2016). "Trudeau defends fundraiser as effort to attract Chinese investment" . The Globe and Mail . Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ a b "PM no longer under investigation for cash-for-access fundraisers, but ethics commissioner won't say why" . National Post . Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven (15 December 2016). "Ethics Commissioner to question Trudeau on cash-for-access fundraisers" . The Globe and Mail . Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ Wherry, Aaron (Apr 27, 2017). "Ethics commissioner cleared Trudeau's fundraising in February" . www.cbc.ca . CBC News . Archived from the original on 2017-04-28. Retrieved 29 May 2023 .