Conservatives demand resignation of Liberal MP Yasmin Ratansi who has quit Liberal caucus

Michael Barrett

MICHAEL Barrett, Conservative Critic for Ethics, said in a statement on Tuesday: “Following the news that Trudeau Liberal MP Yasmin Ratansi was wrongfully employing her sister with taxpayer dollars, and deliberately hiding this information from Canadians, Conservatives are calling for her immediate resignation.” 

He added: “This is just another example in a long line of arrogant and entitled behaviour by Liberals, with [Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau leading by example. Liberal MP Yasmin Ratansi knew it was wrong to employ her sister with taxpayer dollars, yet she went to great lengths to cover-up this information. Canadians deserve better from their elected leaders. 

Yasmin Ratansi

“One thing is clear, Trudeau MPs continue to believe that they are entitled to a different set of rules than average Canadians. That employing their sister with taxpayer dollars is ok, as long as they don’t get caught. That giving a half a billion-dollar contract to an organization that pays their family members is ok, as long as they don’t get caught. And that interfering with the judicial system to benefit a Liberal friendly company is ok, as long as they don’t get caught.”

Barrett said that under Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole, his party “will hold the Trudeau Liberals to account and bring good ethical government back to Canada.”

RATANSI, who represents Don Valley East (Ontario), on Monday night announced in a statement on her Facebook that she’s leaving the Liberal caucus.

She wrote: “This evening I have advised the Prime Minister’s Office and the Speaker of the House of Commons that I am stepping down from the Liberal Caucus.
“I will continue sitting in the House of Commons, representing the fine constituents of Don Valley East, and I will do so as an Independent.
“I made an error in judgement by employing my sister in my constituency office, and I have remedied the situation, but this does not excuse the error I made.
“Last week, I referred this matter to the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, and I shall follow his recommendations on how I might remediate the situation.
“To the constituents of Don Valley East and to anyone I may have disappointed by my error of judgement, I take full responsibility, and to all I do apologize.
“As I await the guidance of the Ethics Commissioner, I have no further remarks to make at this time.”