I remember the situation at the time. The same thing happened again recently. The Ethics Commissioner found that there had been an offence. However, the RCMP didn't say whether there had been an offence, and merely stated that it couldn't look into the matter. Understandably, this creates doubt.
I understand that something can conflict with the code of ethics without being criminal in nature. However, how can public confidence in the government be restored or strengthened? In these types of cases, which involve an apparent contradiction, people have their doubts.