Saturday, June 6, 2026
ADVT 
National

Small business caught in WE affair crossfire

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Dec, 2020 09:55 PM
  • Small business caught in WE affair crossfire

A small business that booked speaking engagements for Justin Trudeau and his family has been caught in the partisan crossfire of the WE Charity affair.

Martin Perelmuter, who co-founded Speakers' Spotlight 25 years ago with his wife, Farah, says his company has been harassed since August, when Conservative MPs began publicly calling on it to disclose speaking fees earned by the prime minister, his wife, mother and brother — even though that would have contravened privacy laws.

In one Facebook post, deputy Conservative leader Candice Bergen provided the company's toll-free phone number and urged people to call to press the point.

Ever since, Perelmuter says his company has faced harassment, personal threats and a social media campaign designed to discredit him and his wife and damage the reputation of their company, which was already struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In testimony at the House of Commons ethics committee today, Perelmuter says the company was forced to call in the police after one individual posted a photo of his wife and her private cellphone number, along with a "disgusting" rant about her.

He says his wife feared for her personal safety and was afraid to leave their house.

MORE National ARTICLES

Liberals unveil sweeping plans for now, future

Liberals unveil sweeping plans for now, future
The Liberals framed their approach Wednesday as giving Canadians a choice, in an echo of their 2019 election campaign strategy.

Liberals unveil sweeping plans for now, future

Parties agree on hybrid Commons sittings

Parties agree on hybrid Commons sittings
The plan also includes reconstituting committees such as a special body examining Canada-China relations.

Parties agree on hybrid Commons sittings

Overdose deaths drop in August from July in B.C.

Overdose deaths drop in August from July in B.C.
Data from the coroners service show overdose deaths began increasing in B.C. just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, when 113 people died, up from 73 in February.

Overdose deaths drop in August from July in B.C.

Five highlights from the throne speech

Five highlights from the throne speech
Aiming to make Canada a world leader in clean technology, the Liberals promise a new fund to attract investments in making zero-emissions products. The government will also cut the corporate tax rate in half for these companies.

Five highlights from the throne speech

Liberals vow wage-subsidy extension, EI revamp

Liberals vow wage-subsidy extension, EI revamp
Today, the Liberals' throne speech promised to extend the subsidies to summer 2021, acknowledging the economic situation facing many employers is still fraught.

Liberals vow wage-subsidy extension, EI revamp

Time to greenlight rapid COVID-19 tests: experts

Time to greenlight rapid COVID-19 tests: experts
Canadians across the country are finding it harder to get tested for COVID-19, as demand soars and the capacity to swab people and test those swabs in labs is maxed out.

Time to greenlight rapid COVID-19 tests: experts