Democracy Watch challenges Dominic LeBlanc on conflict of interest
'Gigantic loophole' in federal Conflict of Interest Act needs to be fixed, says Duff Conacher
Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc's close relationship with a member of the Irving family puts him in the appearance of a conflict of interest, says the co-founder of Democracy Watch.
When he was appointed to cabinet last fall as the government house leader, LeBlanc disclosed he had a personal relationship with Jim Irving, co-chief executive officer of J.D. Irving Ltd.
After meeting with the federal conflict of interest commissioner last fall, LeBlanc agreed he would recuse himself with cabinet discussions that may affect Irving companies.
J.D. Irving Ltd. includes companies involved in forestry, paper products, shipbuilding, transportation, media, agriculture and food processing, among others.
LeBlanc recently said he consulted with Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson "within hours" of being appointed fisheries minister following the resignation of Hunter Tootoo on May 31.
"I asked for her advice as to what measures could be put in place to ensure that there is no conflict of interest, nor will there be an appearance of a conflict of interest, and I will be following her advice at every moment, as I always have."
However, Conacher said he is skeptical and says the Conflict of Interest Act "has a gigantic loophole in it."
Conacher says the act allows cabinet ministers, ministerial staff and senior government officials to be involved in decisions if they are a matter of general application.
"So something applies generally more than to one company or to an industry or to a group of people, as opposed to one person, then your actions are exempt and the Conflict of Interest Act does not apply," he said.
'A charade'
Calling the current system a "charade," Conacher said the ethics screen that was set up with the federal ethics commissioner is ineffective.
"It's supposedly keeping him away from taking part in any discussions or decisions that affect the Irvings, but in that screen it says other than matters of general application," he said.
"So 99 per cent of the decisions and discussions he'll take part in will be matters of general application and they will affect the Irvings and he's allowed to take part in all of them."
The mandate letter given to Tootoo when he was named fisheries minister directed him to refresh the Coast Guard fleet and "meet the commitments that were made for new Coast Guard vessels as part of the National Shipbuilding and Procurement Strategy."
Irving Shipbuilding is one of two Canadian shipyards chosen for the national shipbuilding strategy and is designated to build combat vessels.
Conacher said on Information Morning Fredericton that puts LeBlanc in what appears to be a conflict of interest.
Asked about Conacher's assertions on Wednesday, LeBlanc stated: "Duff Conacher makes this stuff up. I'm not going into that sewer."
Mary Keith, J.D. Irving spokesperson, points out Irving's shipbuilding contract with the federal government is for navy vessels, which falls under the defence minister.
"The current contract for the next generation of combatant vessels for Canada does not involve ships for the Coast Guard," stated Keith.
"Our bids for work from Canada are based on the quality work we do with skilled people [and] modern facilities — not on who we know."