Image: CPAC/file photo
Former Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau violated the Canada Elections Act back in 2019 and has been fined $300 by the Commissioner of Canada Elections. He has also been ordered to share a link to the Commissioner’s findings on his personal webpage or social media accounts.
The Commissioner determined that, in the summer of 2019 leading up to the general election, Morneau appeared at public events in his role as Finance Minister. During these events, however, he showed support for Liberal candidates.
During one such event in Oakville, while addressing the local Chamber of Commerce, Morneau singled out prospective Liberal candidate Anita Anand. Morneau, in his speech, highlighted Anand’s “significant accomplishments.”
“Mr. Morneau participated in a series of department-supported events in his capacity as federal Minister of Finance,” reads a press release from The Commissioner of Canada Elections. “…Mr. Morneau promoted these prospective candidates, which caused the expenses related to those events to benefit the LPC.”
“Ministers are prohibited from using public resources and funds from their departmental budgets for partisan purposes… Mr. Morneau’s failure to exercise due diligence therefore resulted in a circumvention of the rule at section 363 of the Canada Elections Act…”
Morneau resigned as both Finance Minister and as an MP back in August, while the Liberals were in hot water over the WE Charity scandal. Morneau said, after announcing his resignation, that he is putting his name forward to be the next secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Derek Montague is a reporter with Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
