Christian Paradis broke ethics rules in Rahim Jaffer case
Conservative cabinet minister Christian Paradis broke federal rules and gave special treatment to former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer, the ethics watchdog said in a report Thursday.
Conflict of Interest Commissioner Mary Dawson said Christian Paradis broke the rules set out in the Conflict of Interest Act when he told officials at Public Works and Government Services, the department he headed at the time, to talk with Jaffer about his company, Green Power Generation.
"Mr. Paradis gave preferential treatment to Mr. Jaffer in that he treated him more favourably than he might have treated others in similar circumstances," Dawson wrote in her report.
But Dawson, who has been accused of being a toothless watchdog, says she understands Paradis's desire to help a former colleague.
"I believe that Mr. Paradis' inclination to help his former caucus colleague, while inappropriate, is easy to understand," Dawson said. "However, ministers are in a position of power and have a special responsibility to ensure that that power is exercised fairly and in a way that is open to all Canadians."
Dawson spokeswoman Jocelyne Brisebois said later there "are no fines or penalties for most of the substantive breaches. There are no sanctions for this situation other than making this report public."
Help for riding noted
Paradis, now industry minister, has been the subject of controversy over his support for the asbestos industry. Asbestos is mined in his riding and exported to developing countries.
While he was public works minister, one of his staffers had to resign after it was revealed the staffer had told a civil servant to "un-release" a document that was to be mailed out to a journalist under federal Access to Information laws.
Dawson also noted Paradis shouldn't be helping businesses in his riding get meetings with Public Works officials. Paradis had given her examples of other times he arranged meetings between officials and companies.
"With respect to interactions with their own departments and portfolios, ministers should treat their constituents in the same way as they would treat constituents of any other member of Parliament," she wrote.
"In my opinion, ministers representing the concerns of constituents should not use their position as minister to provide greater assistance to these constituents in relation to their own department or larger portfolio."
Paradis gave Jaffer only a procedural advantage and didn't intervene further, Dawson said, adding she suspects facilitating access to decision makers is common.
"People want to help those they know and it is often difficult not to do so when help is sought," Dawson wrote. "It is easy to understand how, finding himself in a position to help Mr. Jaffer, Mr. Paradis would be inclined to do so. Mr. Jaffer told me that many of his former colleagues took an interest in how he was doing and wanted to help if they could."
Christian Paradis broke ethics rules in Rahim Jaffer case - Politics - CBC News
