PM says government will invest billions in housing, health and jobs, but dismissals from rival parties prompt election speculation

Justin Trudeau’s government has announced ambitious plans to spend billions on childcare, housing and healthcare – partly financed by taxing “extreme wealth inequality” – as Canada braces for an economically devastating second wave of coronavirus.

Related: 'It's like night and day': Trudeau's and Trump's Covid-19 responses fuel wildly different outcomes

Move to ‘reset’ government due to coronavirus comes amid committee investigations into WE charity affair

Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, is facing accusations that his decision to prorogue parliament is little more than an attempt to cover up an ethics scandal – and walk away from his duties during a pivotal moment in the pandemic.

On Tuesday afternoon, Trudeau asked Julie Payette, governor general, to prematurely end the current parliamentary session. He vowed to resume on 23 September with a speech from the throne, followed by a confidence vote.

Opposition parties have called for Bill Morneau’s resignation over allegations he had a conflict of interest

Canada’s finance minister has announced his resignation amid reports of differences with prime minister Justin Trudeau over spending to protect the economy during the coronavirus pandemic and allegations of conflict of interest.

Bill Morneau said he is leaving politics and has put his name forward as a candidate to lead the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

• Canadian PM’s family had done paid work for We Charity
• Trudeau: ‘I did absolutely nothing to influence’ decision

Justin Trudeau has told parliament he did not intervene to make sure a charity his family did paid work for would win a government contract.

Related: Justin Trudeau faces calls for criminal investigation into family's charity links

Canadian prime minister faces third conflict-of-interest investigation in just over three years

Justin Trudeau has apologized for taking part in a cabinet decision to use a charity he and his family have worked with to administer a C$900m (US$663m) student grant program.

The Canadian prime minister is facing a third investigation for conflict of interest in a little over three years after his government tapped WE Charity Canada on 25 June to manage the program. The charity backed out about a week after the contract was announced.

WE Charity, which was awarded multimillion-dollar government contract, paid PM’s mother and wife for appearances at events

Political rivals of Justin Trudeau are calling for a criminal investigation after it emerged that members of his family were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a charity to which his government recently awarded a substantial contract.

The multinational WE Charity confirmed on Thursday that Trudeau’s wife, mother and brother had been paid for appearances at charity events over the years. Margaret Trudeau, the prime minister’s mother and wife of the former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, has been paid nearly C$250,000 (US$182,000) since 2016 — far more than any other family member.