Cabinet minister broke conflict of interest rules: ethics watchdog
Posted March 22, 2012 12:52 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Commons ethics watchdog says Industry Minister Christian Paradis broke conflict-of-interest rules when he gave a former colleague preferential treatment.
Paradis — then the Public Works minister — directed his officials in 2009 to set up special meetings with defeated Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer to discuss a private project.
Conflict of Interest Mary Dawson says in a report that Jaffer and his company were treated more favourably than other businessmen in a similar situation.
She also says that Paradis improperly furthered the interests of another person, contravening the Conflict of Interest Act.
Dawson says it might have been natural for Paradis to want to arrange a meeting for a former colleague, but ministers have a special responsibility to ensure they act fairly.
Jaffer has since been found to have broken lobbying rules for not registering as a lobbyist.
