Let's get back to my question.
Generally speaking, senior officials provide advice to ministers and the Prime Minister, and to us, if we ask for it.
With the tools and information they have, they do their best to explain the options available to us. This was a political decision, however. The decision was up to cabinet, including the finance minister, Mr. Morneau, and the Prime Minister. They didn't recuse themselves. When the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance are in favour of doing something, it's pretty hard for the other ministers to object.
Was there really a conflict of interest or, worse, an abuse of power?