Justin Trudeau approval rating takes a hit as WE Charity scandal unfolds

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – It appears Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s approval rating is taking a hit over the WE Charity scandal.

Trudeau was enjoying a bump in popularity ahead of the controversy due to his government’s COVID-19 response. However, the Angus Reid Institute has found his rating has dropped another six points since the controversy came to light.

According to the pollster, three-in-five people surveyed — 59 per cent — feel the WE scandal “is a serious and significant” issue. That’s double the number of people who say it’s been “overblown by the media” as well as opposition parties.

However, despite the prime minister’s declining popularity, more than half of respondents — 56 per cent — say the scandal will not be the issue that brings down the Trudeau minority. Meanwhile, about one-in-three people — 32 per cent — say it could cause the government to fall.

Both Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau have come under fire recently for their ties to the WE Charity.

The Conservatives have even called for both of them to resign over their involvement in awarding a $900-million program to the organization to administer a student-volunteer program.

The federal ethics watchdog is already investigating Trudeau and Morneau’s roles in giving the organization a contract to run the Canada Student Service Grant, a deal that has since been aborted.

Outgoing Tory Leader Andrew Scheer has said the pair have used the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as a cover for their actions.

There have also been calls for the investigation to be expanded to include the police, lobbying commissioner, and elections commissioner.