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Falk introduced in Ottawa’s question period

Jan 31, 2018 | 11:00 AM

Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Rosemarie Falk wasted no time making her presence felt in the House of Commons yesterday during question period.

The newly sworn-in Falk, who was introduced to the legislature on Monday, received a standing ovation from members of the Conservative Party on Tuesday when she rose to ask a question about the recent conflict of interest scandal plaguing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the past few weeks.

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau broke the law when he accepted a luxury vacation from someone who has business with the Government of Canada,” Falk said yesterday. “The Prime Minister seems to think the rules don’t apply to him.”

“Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister accepts the Ethic Commissioners findings when will he pay back the more than $200,000 he billed Canadians for his illegal gift?” she added.

 

 

Trudeau did not take part in the exchange, however the leader of the government in the House of Commons Bardish Chagger said Trudeau has taken responsibility and accepted the findings of the ethics commissioner and has addressed the issue on many occasions.

“The Prime Minister has been travelling the country and visiting town halls visiting Canadians and taking questions directly from Canadians,” Chagger said in Trudeau’s defence. “He has also answered over 1,400 questions from the members of Parliament and the Prime Minister will continue to make himself available to Canadians.”

Trudeau and his family stayed Aga Khan’s home on Bell Island in the Bahamas from Dec. 26, 2016 to Jan. 4, 2017. Khan, a religious leader, operates a foundation that receives millions of dollars from the Canadian government.

Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson’s investigation found Trudeau violated four sections of the Conflict of Interest Act in relation to the vacation in 2016.

The Prime Minister has since announced he is establishing what’s called a conflict of interest screen and will now abstain from any future discussions or decisions regarding the Aga Khan incident.  ​

 

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twittter: @RJWtheReporter.