Trudeau’s not a ‘ details’ guy. That’s bad

On first reading, Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson’s report on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s two family vacations to the Aga Khan’s private Bahamian island paints a portrait of a man with little understanding of government conflict- of- interest rules — and little interest in learning them.

How could it be that Trudeau didn’t recognize it would appear fishy for him to accept a free, tropical vacation from a billionaire who has lobbied several previous federal governments for grants to help his charitable projects in Canada and elsewhere?

Even Canadians unfamiliar with ethics legislation would have little trouble detecting the rotting- mackerel odor of such a scheme.

It’s hard to believe the PM could be so unaware. But a deeper reading of Dawson’s report, especially the sections in which she recounts her discussions with Trudeau about the trips and about his dealings with the Aga Khan as a lobbyist, reveal a PM who is just aware enough to have understood the conflict laws, but clueless enough to have genuinely, naively believed they didn’t apply to him.

Dawson’s report shows Trudeau is not a details man.

He sees himself as a sort of couples’ counsellor or relationship broker, who doesn’t run his cabinet and government as much as he breezes through them, periodically making sure everyone is getting along and achieving common goals.

Of course, Dawson makes no comments on the debacle of Trudeau’s recent trade mission to China, in which he promised a new free trade deal with Beijing, including human rights, environmental protections and labour standards.

But the picture Dawson paints of Trudeau’s management style helps explain why Trudeau’s deal with China came nowhere near what he proclaimed in advance.

Trudeau wasn’t interested in the details of talks with China. He’s detached from such matters, preferring to leave the tough, brain work to Machiavellian assistants.

He’s more obsessed with image and brand building.

So when the Chinese balked at the last minute, they caught Trudeau off guard.

Something similar happened in Trudeau’s dealings with the Aga Khan.

In March 2016, the PM’s wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, arranged a vacation for herself, a friend and their children on Bell Island, the Aga Khan’s private retreat.

Two weeks later, the Aga Khan attended a private meeting in the PM’s office to lobby for $ 15 million for one of his charities.

Trudeau didn’t see anything wrong with his participation in that meeting because, as he told Dawson, he didn’t concern himself with what his family’s host was asking for.

In short, Trudeau’s defence was: How could he be guilty of a conflict- of- interest when he didn’t have any idea what the Aga Khan was lobbying him for?

Trudeau seems to be a “feelings person” who worries more about others’ emotions.