Justin Trudeau under pressure amid cash-for-access fundraising claims

Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has become embroiled in allegations of holding cash-for-access political fundraisers.

Trudeau was pressed hard by opposition leaders on Thursday about newspaper reports that select donors to the ruling Liberal party enjoyed privileged access to fundraising events where the Prime Minister and cabinet members spoke.

Trudeau has denied he has done anything wrong, but the allegations could threaten his relationship with voters.

“I think it’s already tarnished his image because you’re getting this pile-on of all these stories. He’s on the defensive in parliament and it’s going to continue,” University of Toronto politics professor Nelson Wiseman said, quoted by the Guardian.

Accountability rules that Trudeau issued after taking power in November 2015 state “there should be no preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access” for people who contribute to politicians and parties.

“Trudeau’s ethics talk has not been followed up with ethics walk by him and his ministers,” Duff Conacher of the advocacy group Democracy Watch said.

Trudeau has repeatedly noted no rules were broken during the events which, according to the Globe and Mail newspaper, included a fundraiser where an insurance tycoon and Chinese-Canadian billionaires were among donors who heard a speech by the Prime Minister. Individuals can reportedly give a maximum of C$1,500 to a party every year while corporate and union donations are banned.