Top Conservatives attack Trudeau minister for dodgy China dealings

Prominent Conservative politicians have attacked Francois-Philippe Champagne over his dodgy mortgage dealings with the state-owned Bank of China.

On Thursday, the Globe and Mail revealed that Trudeau's foreign minister owed over $1 million to the Bank of China in mortgage debt after he purchased two apartments in London, UK. This has endangered the integrity of the minister, as the Chinese state now has information—and control—over a great deal of his wealth.

Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer raised Champagne's mortgage in the House of Commons on Thursday, calling on the Liberal government to provide some clarity over the foreign minister's deal.

"Has Mr. Champagne's mortgages come up for renewal since he has been a member of parliament?," asked Scheer. Trudeau's deputy prime minister declined to answer the question.

Scheer also asked whether the "minister for foreign affairs will disclose what interest rate he is being charged for on his two mortgages on his two London flats?"

The second of these two questions could transform this story into a skin-shredding scandal for the Liberal Party. Champagne already owes a significant sum to the Chinese state; if he also got a sweetheart deal then his position would be unsustainable.

To be clear, this sweetheart deal is pure speculation. It has, however, gained credibility over recent days after it was revealed that the Bank of China has a microscopic share of London's mortgage market. Indeed, it is the 35th largest bank in London's mortgage sector.

Naturally, Champagne has argued that the Globe article was making a mountain out of a molehill: "the Bank of China," Champagne argued, "was one of a very limited number of banks providing residential mortgages for terms of more than 20 years to people residing in the UK on temporary worker visas."

Champagne's argument has unfortunately failed to placate some Conservative leadership candidates. Erin O'Toole, for instance, made a robust statement on his social media, calling for the minister to resign.

"Justin Trudeau's foreign affairs minister has two mortgages with the Chinese regime," explained O'Toole. "Canadian politicians should be working for Canadians, not be indebted to the Chinese government. This is a gross conflict of interest. Minister Champagne must resign."

Speaking to The Post Millennial, CPC candidate Leslyn Lewis said that the "Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister taking out a large amount of loan from the Bank of China when China has shown hostility to Canadians is a serious lack of judgement. At the very least, it creates a perceived conflict of interest."

"Minister Champagne should immediately end his financial relationship with the Bank of China, either by selling the properties or moving his mortgages to a Canadian financial institution," she added.

Minister Champagne failed to respond to The Post Millennial's request for a comment in time for this article's publication.