A key aide of Canada’s PM is linked to offshore schemes that may have cost the nation millions of dollars in taxes, the Paradise Papers show.

The revelations may embarrass Justin Trudeau, who has campaigned against tax havens.

The leaks pose questions about the actions of Stephen Bronfman, chief fundraiser for Mr Trudeau’s Liberal Party as well as ex-senator Leo Kolber.

Lawyers for them said no deals had tried to evade tax and all were legal.

Canadian broadcaster, CBC, and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) have been spearheading this investigation as part of the Paradise Papers leaks.

They said a trove of documents found in the files of Appleby, the offshore law firm that is the main source of the leaks, suggested that Mr Bronfman’s investment firm, Claridge, had for more than 20 years moved millions offshore for the Kolber family.

The Kolber Trust

Stephen Bronfman is not only a key aide to Mr Trudeau, he is a close friend and was central to his rise to power.

He helped raise cash for Mr Trudeau’s party leadership battle in 2013 and was then asked to turn around the Liberal Party’s financial fortunes.

The key revelations in the Paradise Papers concern a Cayman Islands trust which Claridge runs for Leo Kolber.

Mr Kolber, a retired senator originally appointed by Mr Trudeau’s father, Pierre, was the chief Liberal Party fundraiser for many years, earning the nickname “Bagman”. He has had longstanding links with the Bronfman family – one of Canada’s most illustrious – and is Stephen’s godfather.

Mr Kolber’s home was used in September last year for a Liberal Party fundraising event co-hosted by Stephen Bronfman.