COMPLETE LIST OF TRUDEAU SPEAKING EVENTS FOLLOWS THIS STORY
OTTAWA — Liberal leadership candidate Justin Trudeau says lucrative public speaking appearances he made after becoming an MP were approved by the federal ethics commissioner and listed in his conflict-of-interest disclosures.
“When I started as an MP, I sat down with Mary Dawson and asked her all about it and said this is what I’m doing,” Trudeau said in an interview last week.
“We made sure it was all set up because I didn’t want to get into trouble.”
A Citizen report on Trudeau’s personal finances, published Thursday, showed he earned a six-figure salary on the speaking circuit before he entered politics and has continued to take some paid speaking work since he was elected.
NDP MP Charlie Angus on Thursday questioned why a sitting MP would need to charge Canadians to hear him speak.
“I’m not Justin Trudeau but I consider that part of my parliamentary work, so I wouldn’t charge that because I’m paid for, paid by the taxpayer,” Angus told reporters after question period.
He suggested that Trudeau’s challengers for the Liberal leadership ask him, “shouldn’t you have been spending your time actually serving your constituents and being present in Parliament as opposed to having a job on the sideline?”
Trudeau reported receiving this income in public disclosures he filed with Dawson’s office dating back to 2009, a requirement for all MPs who hold private business interests or receive income from other sources.
His list of clients since the election includes a mix of educational groups, professional organizations and charities. The money they paid him was reported in his disclosures as salary from a federal corporation, JPJT Canada Inc.
Although Trudeau was not obligated to say how much he earned, records voluntarily provided to the Citizen by his campaign show he supplemented his MP’s salary with a total of $277,000 in speaking fees in the four years after he was elected.
Trudeau, 41, said he agreed to share the list of speaking events and amount paid with the Citizen in the interest of transparency and as part of a wider disclosure of his personal assets.
Backbench and opposition MPs are allowed to run private businesses while continuing to sit in the House of Commons — a Canadian Press report in 2010 found that 151 of 308 MPs either receive an outside income or own businesses — but speaking events can cause ethical concerns if it appears the speaker is getting paid to talk in his or her capacity as an MP.
Last year, the Citizen reported that, in addition to Trudeau, Conservative Senators Mike Duffy, Larry Smith, Pamela Wallin, and Jacques Demers had received payment for speaking events since becoming parliamentarians.
Duffy’s profile with the National Speakers Bureau said he offers “a must-have primer on the key political issues of the day” and “combines the latest buzz from ‘inside Ottawa’ with rollicking political humour, to provide a unique and memorable presentation you won’t want to miss.”
Trudeau says he never marketed himself as an MP and says his speeches were focused on youth issues, education and the environment.
“I talked non-political stuff,” he said.
There is nothing in the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons to prevent MPs who are not cabinet ministers or parliamentary secretaries from moonlighting in another job or running a business as long as the work doesn’t create conflicts of interest. And there is no need for MPs to declare who hires them to speak.
“The Code does not require the Office to maintain a list of businesses who hire Members of the House of Commons for speaking engagements,” said Jocelyne Brisebois, a spokeswoman for the ethics commissioner.
Trudeau’s speaking was the subject of a 2010 complaint to Dawson’s office by Ontario MP Dean Del Mastro, the prime minister’s parliamentary secretary.
Del Mastro alleged that Trudeau had allowed himself to be identified as an MP in promotional materials for four events in November 2009. Trudeau said it would be odd not to identify himself as an MP in his biography. He said his clients are clearly told that he appears only in the capacity as an individual who speaks about the environment, youth and education, not as an MP.
“I do not agree that allowing himself to be referred to as a Member of Parliament, on its own, constitutes using his position as a Member to influence the decisions of others to engage him as a paid speaker,” Dawson wrote in a letter to Del Mastro dismissing the complaint.
“There is no information before me to suggest that Mr. Trudeau was performing parliamentary duties and functions when he spoke at these events or that he acted in any way to further his private interests as a paid speaker when performing those duties and functions.”
When he started booking events through Toronto-based Speakers’ Spotlight, Trudeau said he didn’t want to trade on his family name.
“From the very beginning, I said I don’t want to do it for the celebrity factor,” he said.
He admits, however, that most clients wouldn’t have hired him because they wanted to hear about youth engagement.
After his election, Trudeau dramatically curbed the number of speaking events he booked, with his rate varying between $10,000 and $20,000.
He says the fees were on par with market rates for high-profile speakers and helped the organizations he spoke to raise money through sponsorship and tickets.
“Any event I do is going to be well attended. You’ll be able to draw the people to come out for the fundraiser or annual meeting,” he said.
He charged $15,000 to speak to Waterloo Catholic District School Board in 2009; $20,000 for Certified Management Accountants of Ontario in 2010, and $12,000 to talk at Queen’s University in January 2012.
He was also paid $20,000 for speeches to the Credit Institute of Canada, Literacy for Life — Saskatoon, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and Canada’s National Advertising Week.
In 2010, he spoke at a $75-per-plate fundraising dinner for Charity of Hope in Brantford, Ont., which paid him $15,000.
When he spoke to the Halton, Ont., chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association in June, he was identified as an “Education, Environment Youth Advocate” but there was no mention of his role as a parliamentarian.
The event appears to have been a loss-leader for the organization. It was part of a series of “complementary community events” that also included Liberal Senator Romeo Dallaire and Olympic silver medallist Elizabeth Manley.
Trudeau notes that his speaking income dropped off sharply after he became an MP. In 2007, the first full year before he was elected, he earned $462,000 on the speaking circuit. In 2009, that figure fell to $35,000.
Between 2006 and 2009, he made $1.3 million through the speaking events — more than the value of the stocks and bonds he inherited from his father.
He says he stopped speaking in the spring of 2012 when he started considering a run for the leadership.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU SPEAKING EVENTS
2006-2012
As disclosed by Trudeau’s leadership campaign.
2006
January 14, 2006 – University of British Columbia. $5,000
January 19, 2006 – University of Guelph. $7,500
January 24, 2006 – Wilson Young Associates Inc.. $7,500
February 17, 2006 – Mastercard Canada. $10,000
March 7, 2006 – Toronto District School Board. $7,500
April 6, 2006 – Toronto School Administrators Association. $7,500
April 20, 2006 – Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association. $7,500
May 3, 2006 – Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario. $10,000
May 10, 2006 – Professional Administrators of Volunteer Resoucres. $7,500
May 10, 2006 – Toronto District School Board. $5,000
May 12, 2006 – Toronto School Administrators Association. $7,500
May 13, 2006 – The Learning Partnership. $10,000
June 1, 2006 – Burlington Economic Development Corporation. $10,000
June 7, 2006 – Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies c, 20o Meeting Management Services. $7,500
August 23, 2006 – Incentive Works. $7,500
September 30, 2006 – Friends of MacGregor Point Park. $5,000
September 30, 2006 – Waterloo Region Ditrict School Board. $7,500
October 14, 2006 – Nova Scotia Nature Trust. $7,500
October 16, 2006 – Ministry of Education. $3,000
October 20, 2006 – Canadian Parks Recreation Association. $10,000
October 21, 2006 – The Victoria Foundation. $7,500
October 23, 2006 – Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. $10,000
October 24, 2006 – Municipality of Chatham-Kent. $10,000
October 26, 2006 – Ministry of Children Youth Services. $8,000
October 26, 2006 – Ridley College. $7,500
November 2, 2006 – Making Connections. $10,000
November 3, 2006 – Wakamow Valley Authority. $7,500
November 7, 2006 – Ontario School Counsellors’ Association. $7,500
November 7, 2006 – Ontario Hospital Association. $10,000
November 9, 2006 – Federation of Portuguese Canadians Business Professionals. $7,500
November 10, 2006 – Georgian College. $10,000
November 15, 2006 – Association of Fundraising Professionals. $10,000
November 17, 2006 – Alberta Teachers’ Association. $7,500
November 21, 2006 – Canadian Water Network. $9,000
November 22, 2006 – Carleton University. $10,000
December 6, 2006 – Ministry of Community Social Services. $7,500
2007
January 24, 2007 – University of Manitoba – Student’s Union. $10,000
February 9, 2007 – Ottawa Carlton District School Board. $10,000
February 11, 2007 – Meridican Incentive Consultants. $10,000
February 15, 2007 – London Convention Centre. $10,000
February 16, 2007 – Reading for the Love of it. $7,500
February 16, 2007 – Association Franco-Ontarienne des Conseils Scolaires Catholiques. $7,500
February 16, 2007 – Toronto Board of Trade. $10,000
February 17, 2007 – Eventful Times. $10,000
February 27, 2007 – George Brown College. $10,000
March 5, 2007 – University of Waterloo. $10,000
March 15, 2007 – Alberta Teachers’ Association. $10,000
April 3, 2007 – Rapport Youth Family Services. $10,000
May 4, 2007 – New Brunswick Teachers’ Association. $10,000
May 5, 2007 – South Huron District Secondary School Council. $10,000
May 8, 2007 – Community Safety Crime Prevention Council of Waterloo. $10,000
May 13, 2007 – Blessed Events. $10,000
May 14, 2007 – Canadian Association of Healthcare Philanthropy. $10,000
May 16, 2007 – Leadership Windsor, 20Essex. $10,000
May 17 18, 2007 – Niagara Catholic District School Board. $15,000
June 4, 2007 – Educational Computing Network of Ontario. $10,000
June 5, 2007 – London Interfaith Counselling Centre. $10,000
June 7, 2007 – Nova Scotia Co-operative Council. $10,000
June 10, 2007 – Rivers West c, 20o Ugly Duckling Productions. $10,000
June 18, 2007 – Baker Schneider Rugierro LLP. $11,000
June 25, 2007 – American Water Works Association. $10,000
June 25, 2007 – Municipal Finance Officers’ Association. $10,000
July 3, 2007 – Canadian School Boards Association c, 20o Alberta School Boards Association . $10,000
August 21, 2007 – First Nations Water Conference – Smith’s Landing First Nation . $6,000
September 7, 2007 – Human Concern International. $10,000
September 10, 2007 – Canadian Society of Safety Engineering. $10,000
September 16, 2007 – Treasury Management Association of Canada. $10,000
September 24, 2007 – Sudbury District Health Unit. $10,000
September 27, 2007 – York University. $10,000
October 4, 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Canada. $10,000
October 16, 2007 – Ontario Community Support Association. $10,000
October 20, 2007 – Rotary Club of Etobicoke. $10,000
October 24, 2007 – Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. $10,000
October 25, 2007 – Toronto Law Office Management Association. $10,000
October 27, 2007 – Society of Management Accountants of Ontario. $15,000
November 6, 2007 – City of Mississauga. $10,000
November 8, 2007 – Certified General Accountants Association of Ontario. $10,000
November 16, 2007 – Latornell. $10,000
November 18, 2007 – Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre. $10,000
November 18, 2007 – National Council of Jewish Women of Canada. $10,000
November 22, 2007 – Toronto Eaton Centre. $10,000
November 28, 2007 – Peel District School Board. $10,000
2008
January 25, 2008 – Ontario Camping Association. $10,000
February 4, 2008 – Canadian Association of Food Service Professionals. $10,000
February 5, 2008 – Peterborough Victoria Northhumberland Clarington Catholic School Board. $10,000
February 9, 2008 – Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association. $10,000
February 11, 2008 – Edmonton Public School Board. $10,000
March 28, 2008 – Charity of Hope. $10,000
March 31, 2008 – Centre for Education Training. $15,000
April 8, 2008 – Avant Strategic Communications. $15,000
April 9, 2008 – Youth Environmental Network of York Region. $10,000
April 10, 2008 – Canadian Real Estate Association. $15,000
April 15, 2008 – Planners Plus Inc.. $15,000
April 22, 2008 – Packaging Association of Canada. $15,000
April 22, 2008 – First Canadian Place c, 20o Brookfield Properties Corp.. $15,000
April 23, 2008 – The Regional Municipality of Halton. $10,000
April 23, 2008 – University of Ottawa. $5,000
May 6, 2008 – Canadian Mental Health Association – Grey Bruce Branch. $15,000
May 9, 2008 – Children of Hope. $10,000
May 21, 2008 – Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. $10,000
May 22, 2008 – CIBC Wood Gundy c, 20o The Wynford Group. $20,000
June 3, 2008 – National Healthcare Leadership Conference. $10,000
June 5, 2008 – Humber College. $10,000
June 12, 2008 – Uniter Way of Northhumberland. $12,500
June 13, 2008 – Community Living Ontario. $10,000
June 15, 2008 – Canadian Investors Relations Institute. $15,000
September 8, 2008 – SYSCO Canada. $15,000
October 20, 2008 – London Health Sciences Centre. $10,000
November 5, 2008 – Marketing Magazine – Rogers Media. $20,000
2009
January 31, 2009 – Ontario Library Association. $10,000
November 2, 2009 – The Learning Partnership. $10,000
November 6, 2009 – Waterloo Catholic District School Board. $15,000
2010
March 5, 2010 – Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union. $20,000
April 23, 2010 – Charity of Hope. $15,000
May 7, 2010 – Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board. $15,000
September 23, 2010 – REED Construction Data. $20,000
December 6, 2010 – Certified Management Accountants of Ontario . $20,000
2011
January 25, 2011 – Rain 43 (Canada’s National Advertising Week), Toronto, ON. $20,000
June 9, 2011 – Kincardine District Secondary School, Kincardine, ON. $10,000
June 15, 2011 – Credit Institute of Canada, Ottawa, ON. $20,000
2012
April 25, 2012 – Queen’s University, Kingston, ON. $12,000
April 30, 2012 – Literacy for Life, Saskatoon, SK. $20,000
June 26, 2012 – Canadian Mental Health Association – Halton Region, Burlington, ON. $20,000
June 27, 2012 – Grace Foundation, Saint John, NB. $20,000