GUILTY! This Canadian Prime Minister thinks his shit doesn’t stink, and that the smell of scandal won’t stick. Will Canadians prove him wrong October 21st?

Canadian political history was made as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was found -- guilty for the second time – of contravening the Conflict of Interest Act.

“For the second time in just four years, the Ethics Commissioner found Trudeau guilty of violating the Conflict of Interest Act. The first violation was for accepting a paid vacation on a luxury island from someone lobbying him. Today it was confirmed that it was his connection in the SNC-Lavalin corruption scandal,” said Kamloops Thompson Cariboo Conservative MP Cathy McLeod.

In the ruling released this week by Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Mario Dion, the guilty verdict related to the actions of Mr. Trudeau in seeking to influence a decision of the Attorney General of Canada in relation to the prosecution of SNC Lavalin.

This situation led to the resignation of Ms. Jody Wilson-Raybould from the Liberal cabinet, before Mr. Trudeau removed her and Ms. Jane Philpott (whom likewise resigned from cabinet due to concerns on the subject) from the Liberal caucus.

The report released this week, known as “Trudeau II” raises some very troubling findings.

Dan Albas, MP for Central Okanagan - Similkameen – Nicola noted that the

Commissioner found "The Prime Minister, directly and through his senior officials, used various means to exert influence over Ms. Wilson‑Raybould. The authority of the Prime Minister and his office was used to circumvent, undermine and ultimately attempt to discredit the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions as well as the authority of Ms. Wilson‑Raybould as the Crown's chief law officer,"

“The Commissioner noted that he was denied some of the required information to view ‘the entire body of evidence’ and that some witnesses were also unable to share certain information because of these same restrictions”, Albas went on to say.

Ultimately the Commissioner’s conclusion was ... the evidence showed there were many ways in which Mr. Trudeau either directly, or through the actions of those under his direction, sought to influence the Attorney General.

“Justin Trudeau had already become the first and only Prime Minister in Canadian history to be found guilty of breaking ethics laws.  Now, he has done it again,” observed McLeod, before continuing;

“He promised he would be accountable and ethical. Instead he has used the power of his office to enrich himself, reward his friends, and punish his critics. He may never face a court of law for his role in this scandal, but he will have to face the Canadian people over the next few weeks.”

Indeed, since the report was publicly released Mr. Trudeau stated that he “takes responsibility for the mistakes that he made ... however ... at the same time he has also stated that he disagrees with some of the Commissioners findings.

“Having now read the Commissioners report in full I also have a few thoughts”, observed MP Dan Albas. “When this SNC Lavalin situation was first reported in the Globe & Mail, Mr. Trudeau told reporters that” ...

 ... ‘the allegations in the Globe story this morning are false’

Albas continued, “Later at a March 7,2019 news conference Mr. Trudeau stated”:

... ‘In Ms. Wilson-Raybould’s case she did not come to me and I wish she had’

“The challenge with this statement is that the Trudeau II Report clearly reveals that on September 17 of 2018 Ms. Wilson-Raybould did meet with Mr. Trudeau and relayed her concerns directly to him”.

“In other words”, said Albas, “The comments made by Mr. Trudeau in March of 2019 do not reconcile with the facts of September 17th of 2018 as outlined in the report”.

And finally from Kamloops Thompson Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod:

“The choice before Canadians has never been clearer. We have a Prime Minister who abuses his power, bends the law for his friends, and destroys his critics.  And Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, who will uphold the rule of law, respect our democratic institutions, and help all Canadians get ahead.”

All I can say is that this Canadian Prime Minister obviously thinks his shit doesn’t stink, and that the smell of scandal won’t stick. 

Will Canadians prove him wrong October 21^st?