All in the family – Penashue style

The Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs’ election campaign, with the assistance of his millionaire brother-in-law, seemed to find some creative new ways to ensure it was run super efficiently.

• Suspiciously cheap airfare on charter aircraft? Check!
• Omitted travel expenses? Check!
• $25,000 loan at 0% interest from the company your brother-in-law is CEO of? Check!

Sadly for the Minister, these efficiencies are actually all against Elections Canada’s campaign financing rules. You have to charge interest on loans, you have to include all travel expenses and airfare must be paid at full market rate.

What makes it worse is that the Minster’s Official Agent (who after the campaign received a plum patronage post) reportedly consulted the Conservative central campaign on these rules.

The other question: how can a Conservative candidate think it is appropriate to accept a political campaign loan from a company whose mission is to develop economic opportunities and employment for Innu communities?

As new details emerge, and unanswered questions mount, this notoriously silent Minister says nothing. And the Prime Minister again refuses to hold his Ministers accountable.