Morneau
Canada’s finance minister, Bill Morneau has announced his resignation due to ethics scandal and amid a reported split with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over pandemic spending.
Morneau, who made the announcement yesterday, has held the post since 2015. He told a news conference that he has informed Trudeau that he would not run in the next election, and suggested that a new finance minister with a long-term outlook was needed. He said:
“As we move to the next phase of our fight against the pandemic and pave the road towards economic recovery, we must recognize that this process will take many years, it’s the right time for a new finance minister to deliver on that plan for the long and challenging road ahead.
“That’s why I’ll be stepping down as finance minister, and as member of Parliament.”
Morneau disclosed that he would now run for the job of secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Recall that for the past week, Canadian media have reported on a supposed rift between Morneau and Trudeau on how to reboot the Canadian economy that has been undermined by the corona virus pandemic, as the government budget deficit increased to more than Can$340 billion (US$257 billion).
Meanwhile, Canada’s ethics commissioner, Marion Don has launched an investigation into the minister’s ties to a charity tapped by Ottawa to distribute pandemic aid to young Canadians.