Thursday, February 12, 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

Vancouver police project targets slew of crime in Downtown Vancouver

Vancouver police project targets slew of crime in Downtown Vancouver
Four people were arrested and are facing charges related to identity theft, fraud, theft of mail, and possession of a firearm

Vancouver police project targets slew of crime in Downtown Vancouver

RCMP commander says video of arrest lacks context

RCMP commander says video of arrest lacks context
The video circulating on social media shows an officer kicking and punching a man on the ground while another officer is trying to handcuff him.

RCMP commander says video of arrest lacks context

WATCH: IS IT TIME TO MAKE MASKS COMPUSLORY IN PUBLIC PLACES?

WATCH: IS IT TIME TO MAKE MASKS COMPUSLORY IN PUBLIC PLACES?
WATCH- Covid19 cases seems to be exploding in BC, with 817 NEW CASES — the largest number of new cases in the province in a three-day period. IS IT TIME TO MAKE MASKS COMPUSLORY IN PUBLIC PLACES?

WATCH: IS IT TIME TO MAKE MASKS COMPUSLORY IN PUBLIC PLACES?

U.S. vote could affect Canada's immigration plans

U.S. vote could affect Canada's immigration plans
A new poll by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies suggests Canadians are feeling skittish about any planned increases to immigration next year, after months of low numbers of new arrivals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. vote could affect Canada's immigration plans

Canada-U. S. refugee pact remains in place for now

Canada-U. S. refugee pact remains in place for now
In a new ruling, Federal Court of Appeal Justice David Stratas has sided with the Trudeau government in extending the life of the Safe Third Country Agreement.

Canada-U. S. refugee pact remains in place for now

Feds split housing funds between big cities

Feds split housing funds between big cities
Canada's biggest city, Toronto, will get the lion's share of that funding pie with about $203 million.

Feds split housing funds between big cities