Canada's Justin Trudeau in cash for access scandal

[W1sp]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...raising-claims

So it seems that Justin has been accepting money from very wealthy people to have a sit down with them. I guess the corrupt apple doesn't fall far from the socialist tree.

[Jotaux]

The Premier of BC was doing this too, I have no idea how its not considered corruption.

[Damajin]

The corrupt apple can be found on many different trees, for what it's worth. It is particularly amusing when it's this guy though, as he tried to play the Moralist of the Current Year(tm) schtick. Hopefully he burns from this.

[Mister Cheese]

Why is it that virtue signalling assholes are just that? Assholes?

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

Shame if it's true...but the article is really light on evidence.

[Shibito]

@Tennisace you must save him!

[Wells]

Shame if it's true...but the article is really light on evidence.

Yeah that's where I'm at. That said, donations for sit downs without further evidence of quid pro quo doesn't exactly rustle my jimmies.

[Edge-]

So...big money donors got to sit at events where he spoke? Nothing related to, you know, the actual business of governing or policy making etc.?

I must be failing to see the scandalous part of this. I'm far from a Trudeau fanboy, but nothing about this even comes close to "scandalous" for me. Then again, the recent US election and the ongoing events may be radically warping my view of what counts as a scandal anymore : /

That smug face in the topic title is pretty funny though, OP. Kudows to your wit and respectability.

[Tennis]

What's the issue here? Sounds like someone is just trying to smear his name.

How many world leaders stand for this? Not many. In a dark and uncertain world, Mr. Trudeau is one of the few leaders who stands for what is just.

[Mister Cheese]

So...big money donors got to sit at events where he spoke? Nothing related to, you know, the actual business of governing or policy making etc.?

I must be failing to see the scandalous part of this. I'm far from a Trudeau fanboy, but nothing about this even comes close to "scandalous" for me. Then again, the recent US election and the ongoing events may be radically warping my view of what counts as a scandal anymore : /

That smug face in the topic title is pretty funny though, OP. Kudows to your wit and respectability.

The issue is he goes around touting how great he is and how much of a champion of people's rights he is. When in fact he's just as much of a slimeball as any other politician. He's a hypocrite.

[Wells]

The issue is he goes around touting how great he is and how much of a champion of people's rights he is. When in fact he's just as much of a slimeball as any other politician. He's a hypocrite.

I mean was anyone actually expecting him not to play politics?

[Edge-]

The issue is he goes around touting how great he is and how much of a champion of people's rights he is. When in fact he's just as much of a slimeball as any other politician. He's a hypocrite.

What about this makes him a slimeball, though? I'm not seeing what about this is remotely suspect. He's not giving them access to any aspect of government, they're literally just getting seats at events where he speaks at.

Unless someone can establish that there's something untoward going on as a result of those donors getting guaranteed seating at those events, this is a complete and total non-story.

[Independent voter]

What's the issue here? Sounds like someone is just trying to smear his name.

Maybe someday you'll get to meet the big guy! Save your pennies.

[RickJamesLich]

What about this makes him a slimeball, though? I'm not seeing what about this is remotely suspect. He's not giving them access to any aspect of government, they're literally just getting seats at events where he speaks at.

Unless someone can establish that there's something untoward going on as a result of those donors getting guaranteed seating at those events, this is a complete and total non-story.

According to some reports he received some hefty donations:

The Globe and Mail has learned that wealthy Chinese businessman Zhang Bin who, with a partner, donated $1-million to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and the University of Montreal Faculty of Law weeks after the fundraiser, also attended the event.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle32971362/

[Endus]

According to some reports he received some hefty donations:

The Globe and Mail has learned that wealthy Chinese businessman Zhang Bin who, with a partner, donated $1-million to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and the University of Montreal Faculty of Law weeks after the fundraiser, also attended the event.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle32971362/

So a donation to a charity, and a university he doesn't have much connection to at all? How is that supposed to be the bribe you folks are claiming it is?

[Underverse]

Yeah that's where I'm at. That said, donations for sit downs without further evidence of quid pro quo doesn't exactly rustle my jimmies.

Exactly this. I don't see an issue with wealthy people throwing some money away to have a chat with a celebrity politician. If his policies are changing because of it, then it's a problem.

[Tennis]

Maybe someday you'll get to meet the big guy! Save your pennies.

It's hardly a goal of mine. If it happens so be it.

[W1sp]

So...big money donors got to sit at events where he spoke? Nothing related to, you know, the actual business of governing or policy making etc.?

I must be failing to see the scandalous part of this. I'm far from a Trudeau fanboy, but nothing about this even comes close to "scandalous" for me. Then again, the recent US election and the ongoing events may be radically warping my view of what counts as a scandal anymore : /

That smug face in the topic title is pretty funny though, OP. Kudows to your wit and respectability.

Thank you I had a bit of a reverse Tennisace thread in mind

[Krastyn]

So a donation to a charity, and a university he doesn't have much connection to at all? How is that supposed to be the bribe you folks are claiming it is?

At the very least, the optics are hella sketchy.

So from the OP's story:
"Accountability rules that Trudeau issued after taking power in November 2015 state “there should be no preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access” for people who contribute to politicians and parties."

Now follow it up between that story and:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle32971362/

This isn't a "hey let's go listen to the PM speak at a lecture hall and then go home". This is paying $1,500 to the Liberal party to get the Prime Minister to come to your house with 32 other people and have a private talk with him. If you don't want to read the link, here's one important piece:

"The fundraiser also appears to violate Liberal Party guidelines that require party officials to ban anyone from attending a fundraiser if they have direct business interests before the government."

One of the attendees is waiting for bank approval.

The Liberals campaigned on being a more open and transparent government. Being less "corrupt" than the former Conservatives. Yet here we are, with yet another broken promise.

[W1sp]

So a donation to a charity, and a university he doesn't have much connection to at all? How is that supposed to be the bribe you folks are claiming it is?

Clinton foundation 2.0