OTTAWA, ON — Conservative Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government, Michael Barrett, released the following statement on Trudeau’s failure to appoint an Ethics Commissioner for six months:

“It has now been six months since Canadians have had an Ethics Commissioner to keep track of Justin Trudeau’s misbehaviour. This should come as no surprise. For the past eight years, Justin Trudeau has led the most ethically compromised government in Canadian history. But if you don’t appoint an Ethics Commissioner, you can’t be investigated for your bad behaviour.

“From his frequent taxpayer-funded vacations, his protection of SNC-Lavalin, granting a government contract to a company that gave money to his family members, and handing out billions of dollars to well-connected Liberal insiders and consultants – the prime minister has a long track record of using government to benefit himself and his friends.

“The Trudeau government has been slapped with five ethics violations – the most in Canadian history. Yet, instead of cleaning up his act, Trudeau has decided to break the system that holds his government accountable. After appointing his top cabinet minister’s sister-in-law as Ethics Commissioner, Trudeau is now refusing to appoint a Commissioner altogether.

“There can be no doubt this is by design. In the words of the former Ethics Commissioner, Trudeau’s inaction means the Liberal government’s behaviour ‘can essentially go unpunished.’

“Enough. Justin Trudeau must stop hiding and restore accountability to his government by appointing an Ethics Commissioner now. Conservatives will bring home accountability and transparency to Canadian democracy.”