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Canada’s ethics watchdog has no immediate plans to investigate a letter the prime minister’s brother sent to a federal cabinet minister on behalf of an accused al-Qaida terrorist.

Alexandre Trudeau, a journalist and filmmaker, wrote to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale last week urging him to halt the deportation of Algerian-born Ottawa resident Mohamed Harkat.

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Trudeau has long been an advocate for Harkat and others, including Hassan Almrei and Adil Charkaoui, detained under Canada’s controversial security certificate legislation. His letter to Goodale, however, marked his first formal venture into politics since his brother became Prime Minister last fall.

The move put Justin Trudeau, the elder brother, into an awkward spot. But it does not appear to have violated any obvious legal rules.

Alexandre, who is sometimes known by his childhood nickname “Sacha,” is not being paid for his advocacy, according to Harkat’s wife, Sophie Harkat. That means he is not a lobbyist under existing legislation and does not have to register as such.