Bill Morneau, Canada’s finance minister, is stepping down amid the ongoing scandal of accepting gifts from WE Charity and rumours of a growing rift with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
www.ctvnews.ca
Finance Minister Bill Morneau resigns, will not seek re-election
Meredith MacLeod
CTVNews.ca Writer
Published Monday, August 17, 2020 7:24PM EDT
Last Updated Monday, August 17, 2020 8:34PM EDT
ORONTO -- Bill Morneau, Canada’s finance minister, is stepping down amid the ongoing scandal of accepting gifts from WE Charity and rumours of a growing rift with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Morneau, who has held the post for five years, announced his resignation Monday evening in a press conference from Ottawa. He will give up both his cabinet role and his seat as member of Parliament for Toronto Centre.
He announced he will make a bid to become secretary general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Morneau said he told Trudeau he wasn’t going to run in the next federal election and that he only ever intended to serve in two governments. He said now is the “right time for a new finance minister” to manage a “long and uncertain” recovery as Canada rebuilds from the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19.
Morneau denied he was asked to quit or was otherwise forced out. Instead, he said that he had come to the conclusion he was no longer the “most appropriate person” for the job of finance minister because he wasn’t going to be there for the long haul.
He also dismissed speculation of strife between he and the prime minister leading to his decision to quit. He said his relationship with Trudeau was built on “vigorous discussion and debate” but that always led to better policy. Serving as finance minister was “the work of a lifetime for me,” said Morneau.
He said his relationship with Trudeau was built on “vigorous discussion and debate” but that it always led to better policy. Serving as finance minister was “the work of a lifetime for me,” said Morneau.
In a statement, Trudeau said Morneau “worked relentlessly to support all Canadians and create a resilient, fair economy that benefits everyone.”
He said Canada would “vigorously support” his bid to lead the OECD.
“I want to thank Bill for everything he has done to improve the quality of life of Canadians and make our country a better and fairer place to live. I have counted on his leadership, advice, and close friendship over the years and I look forward to that continuing well into the future. Bill, you have my deepest gratitude and I know you will continue making great contributions to our country and for Canadians in the years to come.
Reports have swirled for weeks that Trudeau and Morneau were at odds over the charity scandal, environmental initiatives, and pandemic relief spending. Morneau has been in the crosshairs of opposition parties since the WE Charity scandal broke last month.
Last Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement saying the prime minister had “full confidence” in Morneau.
WE Charity, which was granted a contract worth up to $43.5 million to deliver a now-cancelled student grant program, partly paid for two trips for Morneau’s family members to Kenya and Ecuador, including one trip he took part in himself.
Morneau said he made an “error” and intended to cover the cost of the trips. He then cut a cheque for $41,000.
Canada’s ethics commissioner is now investigating both Morneau and Trudeau for not recusing themselves from decision-making around the contract, given their family connections to WE Charity.
Lori Williams, a political science professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, told CTV News Channel that the resignation is a case of Morneau “falling on his sword for the sake of the party and for the government.”
She said it’s possible a deal has been struck in which Morneau can take on a role with the government down the road. But his removal won’t be enough for a “reset” for the government. The next step -- finding a replacement -- will be crucial, she says.
Speculation will now begin about who will take Morneau’s place, but there has been plenty of talk that former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who has been seen as a highly coveted potential politician, has had the ear of Trudeau about the best course for economic recovery.
Williams says it’s “tricky” to appoint a cabinet minister who hasn’t been elected to Parliament, but it has happened before.
Morneau, who grew up in Toronto and holds a masters of economics degree and an MBA, led human resources firm Morneau Shepell between 1990 and 2015.
He was the first political rookie to take on the crucial finance minister role since 1919.
ca.finance.yahoo.com
