Basically there are rules set out in both the act and the code as to when you may be in a conflict of interest, so of course the first thing is to see whether any of those particular provisions applies. Basically I must follow the wording of the code or the act in applying it. I generally have a pretty good framework within which to make that decision.
There are a few provisions in my act that talk about improperly doing something or other. That's the one area where I do have some flexibility in determining what's improper. Usually in trying to determine that, the first thing I look at is whether there are rules somewhere else—rules that are not in my act—that are not being followed. In such a case, I would inevitably find that improper, and then I would look at, in the odd case, general sorts of understandings of people as to what is just unacceptable. As I say, I'm guided largely by the wording of the act or the code.
One area, for example, that includes the word “improper“ is on post-employment activities. Certainly if something was not proper when someone was a member, the likelihood is that it will not be proper when they're in a post-employment situation.
Maybe that gives you a little bit of a sense of it.