Federal ethics committee discusses possible second probe into WE controversy

OTTAWA – There could be yet another formal probe into the WE controversy.

The federal ethics committee is meeting now in Ottawa to discuss whether or not to investigate the federal contract given to the WE Charity to run a $900-million student grant program.

Opposition members are looking to launch the investigation and are hoping to use the probe to get documents related to the WE speaking contracts for the prime minister, his mother, brother, and wife.

NDP MP Charlie Angus is also looking to hear from Justin Trudeau himself.

“But I would like the Liberals to tell us that they’re going to have the prime minister sit here and explain why he put his family in that position,” Angus says, adding Canadians deserve answers.

“Obviously the appropriate checks and balances were not in place because this scandal should never have happened,” Angus notes.

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Michael Barrett says Canadians deserve the facts.

“I genuinely believe that the sooner we get all of the answers, the sooner we can put this matter to rest,” Barret says.

Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau have both apologized for not recusing themselves from approving the WE contract, despite the fact their families have financial ties to the charity.

However, the Liberals argue the ethics commissioner is already investigating, and that launching a new probe would be out of line with the committee’s mandate.

“We are not an investigative body. Indeed, we are a review body,” Liberal MP Brenda Shanahan says.

The finance committee has already started its own investigation.

On Thursday, the finance committee heard from Youth Minister Bardish Chagger and senior public servants, who said public service pitched the idea of approaching WE and that there was no direction from the Prime Minister’s Office.