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For this year’s holiday season, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau absolutely needs to avoid a splashy vacation.

Not just because ethics commissioner Mary Dawson has just found him guilty of violating four sections of the Conflict of Interest Act related to his vacation last year.

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But because he needs to spend the time in sombre reflection, perhaps indulging in an ounce or two of humility.

Dawson’s report is bad news for Trudeau – the first time in Canadian history a sitting prime minister has been in violation of a federal statute. It isn’t business as usual.

For all Trudeau’s sanctimonious and negative insults about the conduct of former prime minister Stephen Harper, the previous PM never was subject to ethical censure such as this.

Trudeau promised he’d be better than Harper. He promised transparency and accountability. Instead, he stonewalls, denies and shrugs.

His decision to accept a trip to billionaire Aga Khan’s private island, his decision to take a private helicopter, and his decision to not recuse himself from government meetings about projects connected to the Aga Khan – all are now clearly revealed as ethically suspect decisions based on Dawson’s findings.