Ethics and lawyer in the same sentence?OTTAWA -- The sister-in-law of a Liberal cabinet minister has stepped down as the interim ethics commissioner a day after a House of Commons committee agreed to investigate her appointment.
Martine Richard, who has worked in the commissioner's office as a lawyer since 2013, took over the top job last month for a six-month stint.
Richard is the sister-in-law of Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who was found to have breached conflict-of-interest rules in 2018 for approving a lucrative fishing licence for a family member while he was fisheries minister.
A statement from the office of the conflict of interest and ethics commissioner says Richard will stay on as a lawyer while the search for a new leader continues….so she stepped sideways.
A spokeswoman says neither the office nor Richard will respond to further questions on the subject.
On Tuesday, the committee on access to information, privacy and ethics agreed to study Richard's appointment over the course of three hearings, and to invite her and LeBlanc to testify.
Luckily, as far as ethics go, in the revolving door of ethics commissioners, Justin Trudeau’s Jamaican vacation got a pass for him to stay rent-free at the plantation of another Trudeau foundation donator, and these places go for $9000.00/night usually to the peons and non-Trudeau or nonTrudeau-affiliates.
Minister's sister-in-law steps down as ethics watchdog after committee launches probe
The sister-in-law of a Liberal cabinet minister has stepped down as the interim ethics commissioner a day after a House of Commons committee agreed to investigate her appointment.www.ctvnews.ca
….& then the Punchline!!!:
Interim Ethics Commissioner Martine Richard stepped down Wednesday following weeks of controversy over her family ties with a Liberal government minister, leaving the ethics commissioner’s office unable to fulfill key parts of its mandate for the foreseeable future….for the foreseeable future…
Interim ethics commissioner's resignation prevents new investigations into Liberal government — National Post
Without an acting commissioner, 'there are decisions the Office cannot proceed with based upon functions that only the Commissioner can undertake'apple.news
Conflict of Ethics and Interest Commissioner spokesperson Melanie Rushworth revealed that Richard had resigned from her position as interim commissioner and would return to her former position of senior general counsel at the ethics office after only three weeks on the job.
In a statement, Rushworth said that without an acting commissioner, “there are decisions the Office cannot proceed with based upon functions that only the Commissioner can undertake.”
Rushworth declined to detail which decisions she was referring to specifically. But in response to questions posed by National Post before Richard was appointed in late March, Rushworth noted that there are a series of powers in the Conflict of Interest Act and Code that are only available to the commissioner and that cannot be used otherwise.
“The authority of a Commissioner is however necessary for any provision in the Act or the Code that identifies an action to be taken by ‘the Commissioner’,” Rushworth said at the time.
The powers exclusively reserved to a commissioner are wide-ranging and key to the office’s mandate.
Most notably, only a commissioner can decide to launch an investigation into a possible ethics breach if the commissioner has “reason to believe that a public office holder or former public office holder has contravened” the law.
The fact that the ethics czar’s office can’t launch an investigation comes as the Liberals are embroiled in yet another controversy regarding vacation taken by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Radio-Canada revealed that this weeks scandal is that Trudeau and his family vacationed in December at an exclusive luxury estate in Jamaica owned by wealthy family friends who recently made a large donation to the Trudeau Foundation, the non-profit foundation tied to the prime minister’s family.
The Prime Minister’s Office has not said whether Trudeau paid for his stay at the lavish estate over the Christmas break, where rooms during peak season can cost thousands of dollars a night.
The PMO has argued that Trudeau cleared the travel with then ethics commissioner Mario Dion (who then stepped down before this shit-storm blew up) in advance of the trip.
But Ian Stedman, a York University assistant professor specializing in governance and ethics law, said that the commissioner’s office could still “1,000 per cent” investigate Trudeau’s Jamaican trip if new information came to light about the travel that wasn’t disclosed to Dion at the time.
“They come to the commissioner with facts and the commissioner has to accept them at face value” when seeking pre-approval before travel, Stedman said in an interview.
Dion’s opinion at the time “would only be worth the facts its based on,” he said. If Trudeau then goes on a vacation and it “doesn’t align with what was given to the commissioner for his opinion, then … I’d argue that the commissioner ought to investigate.”
But until a new commissioner is appointed, the office can’t begin a new investigation. On Twitter, Dion said he doesn’t expect his replacement as ethics commissioner to be appointed until “late in 2023.” (???? Well, at least he didn’t say late in 2025 I guess…????)
“Now, if there’s a new complaint, like there might be as a result of this vacation to Jamaica … they (the commissioner’s office) would have no one who can make the decision about whether or not to proceed with that investigation. It literally has to sit there,” he added.
(BUT Ian Stedman, a York University assistant professor specializing in governance and ethics law, said that the commissioner’s office COULD STILL “1,000%” investigate Trudeau’s Jamaican trip if new information came to light about the travel that wasn’t disclosed to Dion at the time.)
Ethics laws also state only the commissioner can order a public office holder to divest an asset or recuse themselves from discussions in which they are in conflict.
The commissioner is also the only person who can grant exceptions to public office holders from certain bans or obligations under ethics laws, such as the “cool-down period” during which they are prohibited from having any dealings involving their former responsibilities after leaving the government.
The ethics office also cannot publish a report without a commissioner in place.
On March 24, Rushworth told the Post that the absence of a commissioner at the time did “not affect the publication of any investigation reports as there are no ongoing investigations at this time.”
Stedman says its crucial for the Liberals to appoint a new ethics commissioner as quickly as possible….which probably means not late in 2023.
“I think they need to fill that position as fast as they possibly can, but they need to do it right as well. Going fast isn’t always the best thing, optics-wise,” he said, referring to Richard’s interim appointment.
The government is currently searching for a new permanent ethics commissioner after Dion stepped down in late February. National Post reported that the government appears to be cutting the job’s salary by $110,000, a move vehemently criticized by experts, the NDP and Bloc Québécois.
Rapporteur David Johnson, Eminent Canadian
- Thread starter Ron in Regina
- Start date
Yep, like "military intelligence" or "Parlimentary action." Or "honest cop."
There are honest cops and moderate Muslims and ethical lawyers. They are things that do exist.
With respect to Honest Cops & Moderate Muslims though, unless they step up to denounce those that (if they’re aware first hand of the others existence) aren’t in their same camp though, they’re no better than the Non-Honest Cops or Non-Moderate Muslims….regardless of the Thin-Blue-Line or any other such similar religious nonsense.
I personally know honest & ethical lawyers, as well as those that are in the other camp.
With respect to Honest Cops & Moderate Muslims though, unless they step up to denounce those that (if they’re aware first hand of the others existence) aren’t in their same camp though, they’re no better than the Non-Honest Cops or Non-Moderate Muslims….regardless of the Thin-Blue-Line or any other such similar religious nonsense.
I personally know honest & ethical lawyers, as well as those that are in the other camp.
Why? Are standard-issue WASPish Canadians obligated to "step up to denounce" dishonest or criminal standard-issue WASPish Canadians? And can any WASPish Canadian who fails or declines to do so be regarded as "just as bad?"
Exactly where does one go to get on record as opposing Paul Bernardo or Justin Bourque?
You've come to the right place.
Did you feel that weight of guilt being lifted off your shoulders just now?
:?D
almost seems like you're agreeing to the 'just as bad' analysis
but your overwoke reasoning that only whites are cops or lawyers or muslims for that matter totally misses the mark.
you share the guilt simply by being born innocent in this world
sorry it still weighs on you so
Nonsense. Ron said
I was simply inquiring whether that applied to other groups as well, particularly the "WASPish Canadians" who are the majority. Or does it only apply to non-majority groups? I have no idea what Bernardo and Bourque were, beyond the fact they're both White and probably nominally Christian.
See that little fishhooky-looking thing at the end? That's called a "question mark" or a "mark of interrogation." It means I'm asking a question, not making a statement.
Hope that helped.
Yeah, but only in a smile-and-get-on-with-it kinda way, not point-and-laugh funny.
It’s the turning the blind eye thing that I was referring to. Are you an honest cop if you know about the dishonest cop but you turn a blind eye to it ‘cuz…fellow cop. Same thing with respect to moderate Muslim re radicalized Muslim, etc….
If you’re an honest cop and you don’t see or aren’t aware of a non-honest cops actions…this wouldn’t pertain to them, but turning a blind eye would. If you’re a moderate Muslim, same scenario.
I’m not in law enforcement as my career, sworn duty, o
I am in International Transportation, & I have reported to other companies that are cheating the system on both sides of the border that we all have to follow in order to have a level playing field.
…& are "military intelligence" or "Parliamentarians” regardless of their action or lack there of? If as a moderate Muslim, a blind eye (or actively cheering on) is turned to terrorist activity in the name of Allah (if they’re aware of it) smells much like the Thin Blue Line to me but I’m neither in Law Enforcement or am I religious.
Anyhow, the Auditor-General’s office says it cannot investigate a controversial donation to the publicly backed Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation from two wealthy Chinese businessmen acting at the behest of the government of China.
Ted Johnson, the interim chair of the beleaguered foundation, wrote to Auditor-General Karen Hogan earlier this month to request a formal audit of the non-profit organization, which was set up in 2002 with a $125-million endowment from the government of Jean Chrétien.
Natasha Leduc, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Auditor-General of Canada, said Monday that such a probe is not within the Auditor-General’s remit.
“It would be outside the Auditor-General’s authority to examine the source of private donations, the identity of other donors or their motivations,” Ms. Leduc said in an e-mailed statement.
The foundation’s board of directors and its president and chief executive, Pascale Fournier, resigned April 11, citing the political backlash over the Beijing-linked donation.
The Auditor-General’s office said Monday that it could only examine whether the foundation “accepted or handled donations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the endowment agreement” granted by Ottawa.
Auditor-General’s office says it can’t probe Trudeau Foundation donation from Chinese benefactors — The Globe and Mail
Formal audit requested by charity head deemed ‘outside the Auditor-General’s authority’
OTTAWA – The prime minister’s brother, Alexandre (Sacha) Trudeau, will not have to testify before a parliamentary committee probing the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and allegations of foreign interference in federal elections.
On Monday, MPs who are on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts unanimously agreed to launch a brief study composed of two hearings into the “situation” at the Trudeau Foundation, on the condition that the witnesses not include any elected officials or Trudeau family members.
(The agreement with the two Chinese businessmen who initially took credit for the donation was signed by Alexandre Trudeau, brother of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a foundation board member at the time)
Trudeau Foundation to review donation from benefactors in China
Foundation senior staff and board members discover the donor of record for 2016 gift was a Chinese state-affiliated company, and associated tax receipts may not be accurate
www.theglobeandmail.com
Alexandre Trudeau had reportedly negotiated and signed the deal for the foundation to receive a $200,000 donation from Chinese billionaire Zhang Bin in 2016.
Why Sacha Trudeau won't have to testify about $200K donation from Chinese billionaire — National Post
Alexandre (Sacha) Trudeau reportedly negotiated and signed a deal for a $200,000 donation from a Chinese billionaire in 2016
(Morris Rosenberg also was the author of the report regarding Chinese Election interference in Canadian Federal elections selected by the Liberal/NDP’s)
The motion adopted on Monday is a watered-down version of Conservative MP Garnett Genuis’ original motion tabled last week, in which he called on the committee to get to the bottom of the foundation’s “dishonest conduct and attempted foreign interference.”
Genuis said he was originally hoping for five meetings to discuss the issue, but agreed to lower the number to three, then two meetings, to make sure he had the NDP’s support.
The Liberals said there was an agreement on their end for two meetings, on the condition elected officials and family members would not be invited.
So I'll ask again, and hone it down for you: is the same true of "moderate" Christians, "moderate" Buddhists, "moderate" Taoists, and suchlike? Or is this moral duty only on Muslims?
Can you find definitions of Moderate Christians or Buddhists or Taoists with respect to terrorism upon Western society? How many are Buddhists, etc…are spamming this Forum site?
Moderate Muslim - Wikipedia
The Paradox of the Moderate Muslim Discourse: Subtyping Promotes Support for Anti-muslim Policies - PMC
Tolerant discourse in the United States has responded to heightened stereotyping of Muslims as violent by countering that “not all Muslims are terrorists.” This subtyping of Muslims—as some radical terrorists among mostly peaceful “moderates”—is ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Anywho….Chinese interference in Canadian Federal Elections, etc…
Since you won't answer the fockin' question, here's a little light reading for you. . .Can you find definitions of Moderate Christians or Buddhists or Taoists with respect to terrorism upon Western society? How many are Buddhists, etc…are spamming this Forum site?
Moderate Muslim - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
The Paradox of the Moderate Muslim Discourse: Subtyping Promotes Support for Anti-muslim Policies - PMC
Tolerant discourse in the United States has responded to heightened stereotyping of Muslims as violent by countering that “not all Muslims are terrorists.” This subtyping of Muslims—as some radical terrorists among mostly peaceful “moderates”—is ...
Anywho….Chinese interference in Canadian Federal Elections, etc…
Christian Terrorists