Ethics commissioner trying to shield probes slammed

Interest Act in relation to his vacation on a private island owned by the Aga Khan.

The investigation stemmed from a family vacation from Dec. 26 to Jan. 4 which probably would have remained a private affair had it not been revealed by the National Post.

Once it became public, the Opposition charged that the hospitality extended by the Aga Khan might be deemed to be a gift that could reasonably be seen to have influenced Trudeau in the exercise of his official duty.

Trudeau later said, “I’m sorry I didn’t [check with the commissioner before booking the vacation], and in the future I will be clearing all my family vacations with the commissioner.”

If Dion tries to limit media coverage of matters under investigation, “just about every free-expression group in the country will oppose it at every turn,” predicted Nick Taylor-Vaisey, president of the Canadian Association of Journalists.

Press freedom decisions should not be based on “whether or not there will be a positive or negative reaction” from the public, he said.

Duff Conacher, a founder of the group Democracy Watch, wondered if Dion could back up his assertion that publicity about an alleged ethical breach makes people think a politician is guilty.

“Where is the evidence of that? Some tweets from some extreme partisans?”

Democracy Watch is asking the Federal Court of Canada to overturn Dion’s appointment, alleging the Liberal cabinet failed to consult opposition party leaders as required by the Parliament of Canada Act before naming him to the post.

Chantal Gagnon, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister’s Office, had no comment Friday on Dion’s remarks. — to transport the couple to Winnipeg.

Her mother’s body just arrived on Wednesday and her father’s remains came on Thursday.

Olfert said her grief over her parents is renewed as each of her siblings arrives in Winnipeg for the funeral.

“I find myself sharing their pain because they are just, for the first time, coming into a place where their parents were. Where they lived. Where they worked. And it becomes more real.”

She said it does help that someone is in custody.

“In any family who’s gone through this, to have that person floating around, laughing it up, enjoying life while the families are still suffering is injury upon injury. It’s like heaping coals on our heads.”

Police are not releasing the man’s name pending further investigation.