Brian Gallant vows to be 'strict' on cabinet conflicts

Premier Brian Gallant says he will be strict with his new cabinet ministers when it comes to conflict of interest rules, but wasn't clear on exactly what that will entail.

​Two of the people Gallant appointed earlier this week have previously been criticized for potential conflicts while they were opposition MLAs.

Victor Boudreau, the new health minister, is already the subject of a complaint over his ownership stake in a controversial campground proposal.

Marie-Paule Martin, who owns Camping Beauséjour, claims private campground owners in the region shared proprietary information about their businesses with Boudreau in May 2013.

Martin says they met with Boudreau, seeking his help in lobbying the provincial government to cancel plans to add campsites to the Parlee Beach Provincial Park.

In a written complaint to the members' conflict of interest commissioner, Martin alleges Boudreau used that information for his own plan to build a 700-site RV park in Pointe-du-Chêne.

None of the allegations has been proven.

Now in cabinet as a senior minister, however, Boudreau is in a position to influence the issue.

Meanwhile, Rick Doucet's new cabinet responsibilities include fisheries, a potential conflict with the part-time job he held while in opposition — as executive director of the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Foundation.

Back in 2011, the conflict of interest commissioner had warned Doucet he could find himself in a conflict if he didn't abstain from votes involving the lobster industry group.

Doucet had previously served as fisheries minister in the Shawn Graham government and given $200,000 of taxpayer money to the foundation that funds research on lobster stocks and habitats in 2009.

"We will be very strict on that," the premier said on Wednesday.

"It has to go through the right process and ensure there's never a conflict, and if ever there is, we'll certainly deal with it appropriately," Gallant said.

By law, ministers can't hold outside jobs or business interests unless they clear it with the provincial conflict commissioner, and follow his advice on how to prevent it from influencing government decisions.

Doucet, who is minister of Economic Development, as well as Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, says that won't be necessary in his case because he has already broken all ties with the lobster group.

​"I did that process of rethinking as soon as I found out I was going into cabinet, and I've made that move to be out," he said.

Boudreau did not respond to a request for an interview regarding what he will do about his campground proposal now that he's in cabinet.

Opponents, like Martin, have speculated the project will fall through because Boudreau will have to put his assets in a blind trust and his partners might not be able to proceed without him.

The proposed campground, which would become the largest in the region, is also facing a court hearing in December.

It was approved by Shediac town council in April, but Boudreau and his partners want to lease land from the Anglican Parish of Shediac.

The parish already has an agreement with the owner of Oceanic Campground, however, that says the parish will not allow another campground to start up adjacent to Oceanic Campground, unless the owner provides consent.

The parish has asked a judge to rule on the wording of the 2007 agreement.