OTTAWA—The New Democrats’ ethics critic is raising concerns that Raj Grewal’s decision to stay on as MP for Brampton East will make investigations into his gambling activity more difficult. Nathan Cullen, an NDP MP from British Columbia, said special rights afforded to MPs under the centuries-old convention of “parliamentary privilege” mean that potential investigations into Grewal’s conduct—and for a court or a parliamentary committee to subpoena him as a witness—could be slowed or obstructed. “Maintaining his seat maintains his privilege, which makes investigations and his obligation to appear as a witness much more difficult,” Cullen told the Star on Monday. “That privilege is afforded (to) us as MPs to do our job, not to avoid prosecution.” Grewal has been at the centre of a cascade of revelations and media reports about his gambling activity since announcing his intention to resign Nov. 22. The 33-year-old former Bay St. lawyer then changed his mind about stepping down, and said in a video statement Friday night that he will decide whether to stay on as an MP by late January. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are working to answer questions about the former Liberal MP, after the Globe and Mail reported that Fintrac, the government agency responsible for tracking money laundering, flagged Grewal’s gambling transactions to the RCMP. The Canadian Press has also reported that word of Grewal’s gambling debts was picked up on an Ontario Provincial Police wiretap during a money laundering investigation. Read more: Brampton MP Raj Grewal rethinking decision to resign, says he repaid gambling debtsRaj Grewal made the ‘right’ call to resign, PMO saysOpinion | Susan Delacourt: The Clement and Grewal scandals surely show that Canada needs better screening of its MPsNeither police agency would confirm to the Star whether it is ...
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