Prime Minister Trudeau had unpublicized fundraising reception with Richmondites

Where was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Monday night? Richmond, according to sources.

Lost in a busy, West Coast public itinerary this week — that saw Trudeau announce a five-year, $1.5 billion ocean protection plan Monday afternoon, the day after dining with Norwegian royalty — was a private function at a single-family home in Richmond, the News has learned from a source, who wanted to remain anonymous.

They told the News that the event was held by members of the Chinese community at the home and attendees reportedly paid several thousands of dollars to attend.

Steveston-Richmond East MP Joe Peschisolido confirmed there was an event in Richmond Monday night, but told the News he did not attend.

How much money was exchanged has not been confirmed. 

The Prime Minister’s Office said any such event was not official business of Trudeau’s office. On Thursday, the Liberal Party of Canada stated via email that Trudeau had, indeed, attended a private, fundraising reception but at a residence in Vancouver proper, not Richmond specifically.* 

The PMO publishes the Prime Minister’s itinerary daily. 

When the Prime Minister is attending private and personal meetings, it states as much. For instance, last Friday he was in “private meetings” and on Saturday he was in Ottawa for “personal” matters. Monday evening’s itinerary contains no such explanations.

The Liberal Party of Canada has had some controversial connections within Richmond’s Chinese community, namely past party donor and fundraiser Michael Ching, a prominent developer, who is facing deportation to China on allegations of corruption, which he has denied. 

Recently, Peschisolido’s law firm has been named in civil lawsuits related to local businessman Paul Oei, who faces allegations by the B.C. Securities Commission that he diverted millions of dollars from a Chinese investor to back his immigration-investment business.

* The Liberal Party stated the reception was held in a home in Vancouver proper, not the Vancouver area, as previously published.