Canada finance minister quits amid charity scandal
Canada's finance minister has said he'll resign after conflict-of-interest allegations involving WE Charity.
Bill Morneau has faced pressure to step down after it was revealed he didn't repay travel costs included in WE while on overseas trips to see its work.
He said he recently realized he previously not repaid the C$41,000 in expenses and has since written a cheque.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can be facing scrutiny for his and his family's involvement with the charity.
Mr Morneau said he will step down from his position in the Liberal party cabinet and his role as member of parliament for his Ontario riding, Toronto Centre.
What did the finance minister say?
Addressing the media on Monday, Mr Morneau said he was no more the "appropriate person" for his role in Mr Trudeau's cabinet, but said the WE scandal didn't prompt his decision to resign.
"I met with the prime minister today to inform him that I did so not intend to run again within the next election," he told reporters. "It hasn't been my intend to run for a lot more than two federal election cycles."
The finance minister said his successor must have a "long run perspective" as Canada tackles its financial recovery amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
Mr Morneau has served in the Trudeau government since the prime minister was initially elected in 2015.
The prime minister thanked Mr Morneau for his "unwavering leadership and commitment to service" and also his "advice, and close friendship" throughout his tenure.
And the political reaction?
New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh said: "Canadians desire a government that is focused on helping them, not by themselves scandals. In the center of a financial meltdown, Justin Trudeau has lost his finance minister.
"Each time he gets caught breaking ethics laws, he makes someone else take the heat. That isn't leadership."
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer accused Mr Trudeau of scapegoating his finance minister and said the federal government was in chaos.
What next?
It was reported last week that Mr Trudeau had asked former Bank of England and Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney to be an informal adviser on the Covid-19 recovery plan.
Mr Carney has previously been touted as another Liberal party leadership contender.
Meetings between Mr Carney and the prime minister fuelled reports that Mr Trudeau had plans to fire Mr Morneau.
But Mr Morneau on Monday refuted such speculation, denying that Mr Trudeau had asked him to resign.
Canada's finance minister says he has plans to set up a bid to be another secretary general for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - a move he says is supported by the prime minister.
