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PMO requests RCMP investigation of former aide

Bruce Carson accused of peddling influence at Indian Affairs

The Prime Minster has asked the RCMP to investigate one of his former top advisors, Bruce Carson, for influence peddling after allegations arose that Carson used his position to offer access to the PMO. Carson is the director of the Canada School of Energy and Environment and the vice-chair of the Energy Policy Institute of Canada. During his tenure as a Harper aide, Carson was the top liaison on aboriginal affairs and co-chaired a government task force in charge of reforming the aboriginal land claims process. The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), which is planning to air an investigative report on Carson, alleges that he lobbied Indian Affairs Minister John Duncan’s office on behalf of an Ottawa water company, which was seeking to land contracts to sell poor quality water-filtration systems to native reserves. Upon being informed of the allegations by APTN, the PMO’s office has disavowed Carson. PMO spokesman Dimitri Soudas said the Prime Minister has “never met with, been spoken to or been lobbied by Bruce Carson on any of these matters.”

Globe and Mail

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