Goodale meets with RCMP over income trust probe
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 3, 2006 | 10:19 PM ET
CBC News
"From my point of view it was a very good constructive discussion of the issues involved and the RCMP will now continue to do their work," Goodale said about the meeting.
"Obviously it's not a normal part of the campaign but it's a circumstance that has to be dealt with and I'm very glad and happy to deal with it because I'm very confident about my position."
Goodale has insisted that he was not involved in any wrongdoing and has resisted opposition calls for him to step down as finance minister during the investigation.
The RCMP is investigating opposition allegations that the decision on tax policy regarding income trusts was leaked prior to its Nov. 23 announcement. Opposition politicians point to a flurry of market trading in the hours before the announcement and claim inside information benefited Liberal-friendly traders and investors.
The Mounties, in confirming the criminal investigation, noted in a statement that they had "no evidence of wrongdoing or illegal activity on the part of anyone associated to this investigation," including Goodale.
The RCMP will meet Wednesday morning in Winnipeg with NDP finance critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis, who made the initial complaint to police.
