Optics of nominee program did concern premier

P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz says he was concerned how it would look for companies owned by MLAs to receive money from potential immigrants, but he deferred the matter to the conflict of interest commissioner.

'It's not up to me to punish someone for something they could access if they weren't in politics.' — Premier Robert Ghiz

Ghiz told CBC News on Tuesday he doesn't know how many MLA-owned companies may have received money from the Provincial Nominee Program. Two thousand foreign investors put $400 million into a fund for Island companies between April 1 and Sept. 2 this year. While the money is already invested, it could be years before the immigrants arrive in Canada, and they could still be rejected.

When the question of whether government MLAs could have their companies participate in the program came up, Ghiz said he suggested they first go through the conflict of interest commissioner. He knew from the start, he said, that the situation might not look good in the eyes of the public.

"Islanders are the type of people, and our media is the type in Prince Edward Island, that they're always looking for angles like that," said Ghiz.

"But at the end of the day it's not up to me to punish someone for something they could access if they weren't in politics."

Rush of applicants before program closed

The program, which had been running seven or eight years, ended Sept. 2. In previous years only a few hundred potential immigrants had applied, but there was a rush when the end of the program was announced.

Transportation Minister Ron MacKinley, Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan, Health Minister Doug Currie and Education Minister Greenan said they had not received funds from the program. Environment Minister George Webster said he had, and Tourism Minister Valerie Docherty said her husband had, but in both cases the investments were made before they were elected to the legislature.

Blind trusts

Innovation Minister Richard Brown said he doesn't know if any of his companies are involved.

"When I was elected to government and appointed to cabinet, all of my shares in my companies have been put in a blind trust and run by a trustee," he said.

Ghiz said he didn't own any companies that would be eligible for the fund.

"And if I did, it would be in blind trust to begin with so therefore I wouldn't have any knowledge whatsoever on whether or not a company would own it," he said.

"I can say no I haven't because I don't own any companies."

Citizen and Immigration Canada has expressed concern about the program on P.E.I., in particular regarding whether the investments were made in sound companies.

Complaints in Nova Scotia

The Provincial Nominee Program has also come under scrutiny in Nova Scotia.

Jacques Lapointe, Nova Scotia's auditor general, will soon release the second part of a special report on that province's program.

Lapointe released the first part of his report in June, reporting that the program failed to properly screen employers or keep track of millions of dollars in fees paid by immigrants.

Hundreds of them paid $130,000 each, and in return were supposed to receive a six-month mentorship with a local company. Dozens of immigrants reported their work experience was not adequate. Some said companies simply had them show up to collect their pay.

Money from the program was refunded to immigrants earlier this year.