The Canadian Press
Giuseppe Valiante
MONTREAL–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau touted his government’s commitment to transparency and its tough stance on the wealthy at a high-priced fundraiser yesterday attended by some of Montreal’s elite.
Before beginning his remarks to the roughly 150 Liberal party donors in attendance, Trudeau thanked Stephen Bronfman, a major party fundraiser and well-known businessman and financier.
“Thank you for volunteering your time for this movement,” Trudeau said, “and for being such a strong voice for progressive change in this country.”
A 2017 investigation by CBC, Radio-Canada and the Toronto Star revealed Bronfman and his family’s investment company were linked to an offshore trust in the Cayman Islands that may have used questionable means to avoid paying millions in taxes.
Bronfman said he’s never funded nor used offshore trusts, and that all his Canadian trusts have paid all federal taxes on their income.
Trudeau said he recognized the audience in the swanky downtown Montreal ballroom “represent people who have really succeeded in this country.”
Tickets to the event were $1,500 per person over 35 years old and $750 for anyone under that age.
Attendees included Bronfman, former mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre and Mitch Garber, a famous private equity financier and chairman of Cirque du Soleil and owner of World Series Poker.
