Morneau at centre of fierce debate in Commons that leads to Tory MP’s ejection
OTTAWA — Finance Minister Bill Morneau found himself fending off fresh Opposition broadsides Thursday during another tumultuous question period — this one so turbulent a Conservative MP was booted from the House of Commons.
Morneau has been at the centre of an ethics controversy for weeks, and the latest questions were focused on new revelations his father sold off about $1.5 million shares in their family-built company right before the minister made a major 2015 tax-change announcement.
Opposition MPs say they believe the tax news led to a dip in the stock market — including the value of Morneau Shepell shares.
All week, the Conservatives and the New Democrats have been grilling the Liberals about Morneau’s late-2015 sale of millions of dollars worth of his own shares in Morneau Shepell Inc. The transaction took place days before the Dec. 7 announcement.