Liberal efforts to shed light on cash-for-access bashes panned by Tories, NDP
OTTAWA — With Parliament’s return looming, the Trudeau Liberals promised Friday to shine the light of public scrutiny on their so-called “cash-for-access” fundraisers — but critics quickly denounced the proposals as superficial window-dressing.
The Liberals promised legislation that would require cabinet ministers, party leaders and leadership candidates to publicly advertise their fundraisers in advance, and release a report after the fact with details of the event.
The timing of the news appeared designed to cut the legs out from under Conservative and NDP plans to crank up the question-period pressure on Trudeau and the Liberal government when the House of Commons returns Monday.
The proposed new law, if passed, would also require events to take place in publicly available spaces, a move designed to address concerns about well-heeled donors bending the ears of cabinet ministers in private homes.