MONTREAL — Justin Trudeau says the actions of his national campaign co-chairman, who gave advice to an oil pipeline company on how to lobby a new government, were inappropriate and he supports his resignation.
Dan Gagnier, a member of the Liberal leader’s inner circle, stepped down Wednesday after a report by The Canadian Press revealed he sent a detailed email to officials at TransCanada Corp.
Gagnier said in a statement that he left because he didn’t want to be a distraction to Trudeau’s campaign.
Speaking Thursday in Montreal, Trudeau tried to shield his campaign from any potential political damage caused by the revelations, with only a few days left before Monday’s vote.
Initially, the Liberals stood by Gagnier, insisting he hadn’t broken any ethical standards.
Trudeau said he supported Gagnier’s decision.
“He acted in an inappropriate way a few days ago and when we found out about it, we sat down with him and he chose to do the responsible thing and step down from our campaign,” Trudeau said at an event in the city’s north end.
“It’s a way of demonstrating the fact that we take ethical standards and responsibilities extremely seriously.”
Trudeau later added that Gagnier will remain off his team “for the long-term future.”
He also defended Gagnier, saying he has a long history of working with governments and has always behaved in a responsible way.
It remains to be seen whether the Gagnier revelations will affect Trudeau’s campaign, which recent polls have suggested has been building momentum.
Emails sent by Gagnier, a key Liberal adviser in Quebec, show that he gave advice to TransCanada on how and when to lobby a new government — including a Liberal minority.
The company is behind the Energy East Pipeline, which has stirred considerable controversy among many Quebecers who have concerns about its potential environmental impacts. Some question whether it will provide significant economic benefits to the province.
Prior to his resignation, a Liberal spokeswoman tried to defuse the situation Wednesday by saying Gagnier’s analysis in the email had “nothing to do with his volunteer role on the campaign.”
Trudeau said Thursday that Gagnier did not consult the party on its energy policy because he had clients in many different sectors.
“We are well aware of the challenge of perceptions in politics and of the challenges the Liberal party has had to address in the past,” Trudeau said.
“That’s why we took immediate action to say that this action was unacceptable, inappropriate and Mr. Gagnier fully assumes the responsibility for his actions and stepped down.”
On another issue, Trudeau was also asked about Conservative Leader Stephen Harper’s association with Toronto city Coun. Rob Ford and his brother Doug.
The Ford brothers both appeared at a Harper event earlier this week. Doug Ford has also said he will host a rally for Harper later this week.
Trudeau said Harper should be “embarrassed that he’s having to count on the support of Rob Ford for his re-election.”
“There’s a lot of people talking in the news these days about the hypocrisy of the Fords and their drug problems and Mr. Harper and his positions on that,” Trudeau said.
“But that’s not really the issue, as serious as it is, that strikes me most. What bothers me most is the misogyny. The Ford brothers should have no place on a national campaign stage, much less hosting a prime minister at an event this weekend.
“That’s just completely irresponsible of the prime minister.”
Later Thursday, Trudeau is planning to visit the backyard of NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. He will make a whistle stop in Montreal’s Outremont riding, the seat held by Mulcair at dissolution and a former Liberal stronghold.
