The lobbying commissioner has dropped an investigation into the fundraising activities of Barry Sherman.

Sherman was under investigation by the Commissioner of Lobbying for a fundraising event he held for the Liberal Party at his home in August 2015 that was attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“In light of Dr. Sherman’s passing, the purpose of conducting an investigation under the Act, to ensure Dr. Sherman’s compliance with the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct, can no longer be fulfilled,” lobbying commissioner spokesperson Manon Dion wrote in an email.

In December, Sherman, 75, and his wife Honey, 70, were found dead in their home. Police have classified their deaths as suspicious.

Sherman was involved in two fundraising events for the Liberal Party in August 2015 and November 2016.

Duff Conacher, of the government accountability organization Democracy Watch, filed two subsequent complaints against Sherman with the commissioner about Sherman’s fundraising activities.

Lobbying commissioner Nancy Belanger wrote in a letter to Conacher, dated Jan. 24, that her predecessor, Karen Shepherd, did not pursue an investigation into the November fundraiser, “as there was no basis to conclude that Dr. Sherman was in breach of” the Lobbying Act.

But the commissioner did pursue an investigation into the Aug. 26, 2015 fundraiser “in relation to Dr. Sherman’s alleged conduct,” Belanger wrote.

Sherman filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in May to block the lobbying commissioner’s probe into him and Apotex, claiming it had been “taken and pursued in bad faith and/or for an improper purpose.”

The Lobbying Act authorizes the commissioner to stop an investigation if there is a “valid reason for not dealing with the matter.”

When reached Thursday afternoon, a Liberal Party spokesperson referred to Trudeau’s previous statement regarding the Shermans’ passing.

“Sophie and I are saddened by news of the sudden passing of Barry and Honey Sherman,” Trudeau tweeted in December. “Our condolences to their family (and) friends, and to everyone touched by their vision (and) spirit.”

The party declined to comment further.

Conacher told the Star that Democracy Watch will challenge the decision in court.

“We’re asking the judge to review the decisions, and we have to file those within 30 days,” he said.

Read more:

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Barry Sherman’s donations sometimes used to wield political influence

Thousands of mourners pay tribute to Barry and Honey Sherman

Read more about: