Trudeau Threatens Election to Avoid Anti-Corruption Committee

October 21, 2020

For immediate release

Ottawa, ON – Today, the House will be voting on a Conservative Party of Canada Opposition Day motion to create a special committee to investigate the Liberal government’s numerous ethical scandals throughout their COVID-19 response, including questions related to the WE Charity Scandal. The Prime Minister has declared the Conservative motion to be a matter of confidence, despite the motion specifically stating it is not a matter of confidence.

Most recently, the Journal de Montréal discovered that the Trudeau Liberals gave a $237 million contract to a firm with strong Liberal connections, created just seven days before the contract was awarded and that the federal government overpaid by nearly $100 million.

“It is the duty of the Opposition to stand up for Canadians when their own government is busier filling the pockets of supporters than transferring health funds to the provinces or preparing for a second wave of COVID-19,” said MP Arnold Viersen. “The Prime Minister seems to forget that in a minority Parliament, he does not wield the absolute power he seems to think he has.”

“It speaks to the moral character of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he is willing to put the health and safety of Canadians at risk and send them to the polls during a pandemic to avoid accountability and scrutiny about pandemic spending and favouritism.

“As the Official Opposition, we will do the job that Canadians elected us to do. We will continue to hold Justin Trudeau and his government accountable and get the answers that Canadians deserve. And if the Prime Minister wants an election, we will be ready.”

The Conservative Opposition Day motion can be found here. A backgrounder outlining the details of the motion can be found here.

Today’s vote on the Conservative motion will be at 3:00pm ET and viewed at cpac.ca.

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