In that particular situation, it's possible that Minister Morneau thought he paid for that entire trip, for those two trips by his family, and that his family paid the entire amount, because they did pay $52,000. But I will not believe that claim until I see the entire communication record between WE Charity and every member of the family.
If WE Charity said at any time that part of that was complimentary, then Minister Morneau knew, and it raises questions not only of ethics violations because he accepted that gift.... But as you say, trying to pay it off just before testifying would, I think, violate that anti-avoidance clause, and it raises questions—as Democracy Watch has filed complaints with the RCMP—of breach of trust. Being in that kind of relationship, knowing what the ethics rules are, which Minister Morneau does because he has been found guilty of violating them and has been investigated for violating them, but still continuing to participate and direct his staff to participate in the process raises those questions.