The federal ethics watchdog is asking parliamentarians and the public to read between the lines about advice he gave to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before his recent holiday trip.
Konrad von Finckenstein told a House of Commons ethics committee Tuesday that under the Conflict of Interest Act, he can't publicly disclose conversations he's had with politicians.
But he said that if Trudeau's stay at a family friend's property in Jamaica had been unacceptable, it would've been recorded on his office's website — and nothing is there.
Trudeau's office said earlier this month that the family's stay was offered at no cost, after previously stating that the family would be covering the cost of their accommodation.
The interim ethics commissioner said he's not responsible for the prime minister's spokesperson, and public office holders have always accepted his office's advice.
The Conflict of Interest Act allows politicians to accept gifts and other advantages only from relatives or family friends with whom they have a well-documented close bond.
Earlier this month, the National Post reported that Trudeau was staying at a luxury estate owned by his longtime friend Peter Green.
The Canadian Press has not independently verified the information, and officials have declined to confirm where Trudeau was staying.
The prime minister stated that Green has been a family friend for more than 50 years, von Finkenstein said, and that their visits date back to Trudeau's childhood.
Green is also a godfather to one of Trudeau's children.
"Is there enough here to believe something needs to be investigated? No, it does not," von Finkenstein said Tuesday.
