NDP asks ethics watchdog to look into Liberal MP's India trip guest

NDPMP Charlie Angus is asking the ethics commissioner to investigate Liberal MP Raj Grewal following reports he helped a business associate gain access to the prime minister and other top government officials during a trip to India last month.

Grewal, MP for Brampton East,invited Yusuf Yenilmez, CEO ofZGemiInc., to recent receptions in India with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his delegation.

Grewal has listed ZGemi, a general contractor in the Brampton area, as a source of income on his filing to the ethics commissioner.

Yenilmeztold the NationalPost that he"went to India for business and signed up to attend the Business Networking sessions offered by the Canada India Foundation. I signed up independently as a Canadian business looking to partner with Indians business looking to expand in Canada."

TheZGemiFacebookpage showsYenilmezposed for photos with top ranking officials in the Liberal government, includingKatieTelford, the prime minister's chief of staff, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development NavdeepBains,Defence MinisterHarjitSajjan, Government House leaderBardishChagger,Infrastructure MinisterAmarjeetSohi and Nadir Patel, Canada's high commissioner in India.

As Angus points out in his letter, sections 8 and 9 of theConflict of Interest Code for MPs prohibitthem from furthering their private interests or "improperly further(ing) another person's or entity's private interests."

Angus goes on to argue that Grewal has "failed the test of principles" by promoting his partial employer's business and organizing"high-level networking opportunities."

Grewalhimself said that sinceYenilmezwas registered for the Canada-India Forum through the Canada India Business Council, he had access to the receptions with or without the Liberal MP'sinvitation.

"I cleared this business relationship in advance with the conflict of interest and ethics commissioner, have followed the commissioner's advice, and will continue to do so," Grewalsaid in a statement.

Failed the test of principles

A spokesperson for Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion would not confirm that his office has received a request for an inquiry.

Grewaldid not respond to a request for comment fromCBCNews.

The trip followed Grewal into question period Thursday, where Conservative House leader Candice Bergenripped into his decision to bringYenilmezalong.

Chagger, answering on his behalf,said the ethics commissioner is well aware of Grewal'srelationship withYenilmez.

"The member has consulted the office of (the) ethics and conflict of interest commissioner on this relationship and will keep following their advice," she said.

Chaggeralso said it is not unusual forMPsto invite local business leaders to these sorts of functions.

"As is common practice, the member invited a diverse group of more than 30 stakeholders to participate in events around the India trip. In this case, people who were interested in attending could fill out a form online through the Canada-IndiaBusiness Council, which the individual in question also did," she said.

The opposition has gone after the Liberals repeatedlyover their guest list for the ill-fated India mission after news broke that convicted attempted murderer Jaspal Atwalwas invited to at least two receptions with Trudeau during the February trip.His invitationto an event at the Canadian High Commission in India was eventually rescinded.

Tories press for Atwal security briefing

6 years ago

Duration 11:42

'They're changing their message on this, day by day, week by week,' says Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.