10.84°C Vancouver

Oct 15, 2020 3:41 PM -

Opposition MPs brace for marathon Liberal filibuster over WE documents demand

Share On
opposition-mps-brace-for-marathon-liberal-filibuster-over-we-documents-demand
Margaret Trudeau speaks to the audience at fans at a We Day event in Toronto, on Thursday, September 20, 2018.THE CANADIAN PRESS-Christopher Katsarov

Opposition MPs are bracing for another marathon meeting of the House of Commons ethics committee today as they ramp up efforts to revive their investigation into the WE Charity affair.

Indeed, Conservative MP Michael Barrett says he and his colleagues are prepared for the meeting to drag on for days, if that's what it takes to finally force an end to a filibuster by Liberal committee members who've been blocking opposition demands for more documents.

At issue is a motion put forward by Barrett last week calling on Speakers' Spotlight, the agency that arranged speaking engagements for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mother and brother at WE events, to hand over 12-years' worth of receipts for those paid appearances.

WE Charity, which was to have been aid $43.5 million to administer a now-defunct federal student services grant program, has already disclosed that it paid Margaret and Alexandre Trudeau more than $350,000 over the years.

Last Friday, Liberal committee members launched a four-hour filibuster to prevent a vote on Barrett's motion; it ended only when a Bloc Quebecois MP got fed up and joined the Liberals in voting to adjourn the meeting.

Today's meeting will pick up where Friday's meeting left off.

Latest news

CanadaNov 05, 2026

Quebec Premier Steps Up Efforts to Improve Ties with U.S. After Midterm Elections

Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has announced plans to launch a diplomatic outreach campaign in the United States following the midterm elections, aiming to improve relations and ease trade tensions. Plamondon said the rejection of U.S. President Donald Trump's policies by voters presents an opportunity for Canada and Quebec to find new allies in the United States and strengthen cross-border cooperation. However, he clarified that Quebec has no immediate plans to launch direct trade negotiations with Washington. Instead, the province will focus on opening new channels of communication
WorldNov 05, 2026

China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng to Visit Ottawa on November 8–9 to Strengthen Trade Ties

During the high-level visit, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu will welcome He Lifeng. The visit follows Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip to Canada in May this year and is seen as another significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations. Prime Minister Mark Carney laid the foundation for a renewed strategic partnership during his visit to China in January. Finance Minister Champagne’s visit in April and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu’s trip to China earlier this week have also contributed to advancin
AlbertaNov 05, 2026

ASIRT Clears Two Alberta Police Officers in Leduc Arrest After Reviewing Bodycam Footage

Alberta’s police watchdog has cleared two officers involved in an alleged excessive use-of-force incident during an arrest in Leduc. Body camera footage played a key role in the investigation. According to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), the man had allegedly assaulted someone earlier that night and repeatedly resisted arrest, forcing both officers to use physical force to restrain him. The officers punched the man in the face, which ASIRT determined was justified under the circumstances. The man had alleged that officers kicked him in the face. ASIRT concluded that the o
BCNov 05, 2026

BC Housing Experts Urge New Government to Reduce Development Charges Amid Slowing Condo Market

Housing experts and developers in British Columbia are urging the province’s newly elected government to consider alternatives to development charges for funding municipal infrastructure, as the condo construction market in Metro Vancouver has fallen to its lowest level in 15 years. They say development charges, which were initially intended to fund essential infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems, are now being used for a wider range of services, including libraries, fire services and daycare facilities. This expansion has led to a sharp increase in fees. According to a repor
BCNov 05, 2026

20 Injured After Shuttle Bus Carrying Data Centre Workers Crashes Into Ditch in B.C.

At least 20 people have been injured after a shuttle bus carrying workers for a data centre company crashed in British Columbia on Wednesday morning. The accident occurred around 9:10 a.m. on Highway 39, approximately four kilometres south of Mackenzie. The white shuttle bus, rented by a contractor for Australian technology and AI data centre company IREN, reportedly lost control and plunged into a ditch. According to BC Highway Patrol, the driver and around 20 other people sustained injuries. One victim was airlifted from the scene in critical condition. Six others were initially taken to a l

Related News