Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is making a rare appearance today in front of the House of Commons finance committee, in order to testify about his government’s decision to get the WE organization to run a summer student-volunteer program.
Trudeau’s testimony comes after he was put under investigation for possible conflict-of-interest violations.
It isn’t common for prime ministers to appear before parliamentary committees. The last time was over a decade ago.
The issues stem from speaking fees and related expense reimbursements the WE organization paid to Trudeau’s mother, brother, and wife, amounting to over $500,000.
Trudeau will appear before the Committee at 3 p.m. (1900 GMT), while his chief of staff, Katie Telford, will follow him at 4:15 p.m.
Meanwhile, federal ethics commissioner Mario Dion is widening his investigation of Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s dealings with WE Charity.
Morneau has repaid $41,000 in WE-sponsored travel expenses for family trips three years ago.
On Tuesday, WE co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger told the finance committee that it was their history as an organization that earned them the deal, not any political ties.
The opposition Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois have called on both Trudeau and Morneau to resign.