What was in the ethics commissioner’s report

The Aga Khan did not meet the definition of a friend There is an exception in the Conflict of Interest Act for gifts or other advantages from relatives and friends, but Dawson found it did not apply in this case. Dawson’s report said the Aga Khan’s relationship with Trudeau’s father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, developed in the 1960s.

That family friendship facilitated the current prime minister’s friendship with the Aga Khan, but Dawson said it was still unlikely the vacation offer would have been extended to Trudeau "had there not been official interactions between the government of Canada and the Aga Khan and had Mr. Trudeau not become a significant player on the Canadian political scene."

The prime minister broke the rules on gifts Dawson found Trudeau breached section 11 of the act, which pertains to gifts or "other advantages," when he and members of his family accepted the Aga Khan’s "gift of hospitality" and the use of his private island. There were official dealings with the Aga Khan and his foundation — the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada — who were registered to lobby the Prime Minister’s Office, Dawson said.

She said the vacations could reasonably be seen to have been given to influence Mr. Trudeau in his capacity as prime minister.

Trudeau failed to recuse himself from talks that gave an opportunity to further interests Dawson said Trudeau broke section 21 of the Conflict of Interest Act when he failed to remove himself from discussions that provided an opportunity to advance private interests associated with institutions of the Aga Khan. This part of the act requires public office holders to recuse themselves from any discussion, decision, debate or vote on any matter in which they would be in a conflict of interest.

However, Dawson said Trudeau didn’t take part in any votes or decisions, nor provide the Aga Khan’s foundation any preferential treatment.