Evidence of meeting #47 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was screen.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
All right.
I'll continue on that point. For example, François-Philippe Champagne, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, chose to take a voluntary precautionary measure by recusing himself. However, when a formal recusal is not required, is this an approach that can help strengthen public trust?
Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Let me explain our policy on filters, because that is really the issue at hand here. If there is a potential conflict of interest, the person must recuse themselves. If they do so, the recusal will be published on our website. This is something that is very public.
As a precaution, a filter must also be established. This filter is administered by two people who ensure that the minister is not involved in any discussion or decision regarding the matter creating the conflict of interest. We require this. To do so, we provide the member with a form to discuss the necessary measures, among other things. Once we have an agreement on this filter, we publish it on our website. It is an official filter.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Okay.
It's a bit like the conflict of interest screen that was required for the Prime Minister and is managed by his chief of staff and Michael Sabia.
Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Exactly.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
It's the same thing, but in this case, they are two different people for Mr. François-Philippe Champagne.
Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Mr. Champagne did more than that: he set up a screening filter on his own initiative, even though we hadn't asked him to. We had told him very clearly that it wasn't necessary. As he said, however, he did it out of an abundance of caution, if you will. So he set up a private filter. He notified the Prime Minister and sent me a copy. Since this is not a filter we requested, we will not be publishing it on our website.
Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
In some cases, a minister may request that a conflict of interest filter be established due to the possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest in a given situation and the risk that this could undermine public confidence, among other reasons.
If there is indeed an issue of the appearance of a conflict of interest that could undermine public confidence, we will ask the minister to send us their disclosure and inform them that it will be published on our website. That is the only scenario. However, we are clear with the individual. We tell them that this is not something we require, but rather something they are requesting. We also tell them that we will not administer or monitor the filter; we will publish it as a courtesy to them, but it is not something we have required or imposed.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you for your explanations.
From what I understand and based on your explanation, what the minister did here was intended to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. There was no conflict of interest, but he did it voluntarily anyway to ensure that any possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest was avoided.
Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes. He can do that, and if he asks me to publish it, I will publish it. In Mr. Champagne's case, he never asked us to publish that filter, so we did not publish it on our website.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I have another quick question for you, Commissioner. Why and how did your office reach the conclusion that there was no conflict of interest between the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and Alto, the high-speed rail company?
Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Alto is a Crown agent that forms part of the portfolio of the Minister of Transport. It has no connection to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, who is responsible for funding across the entire government, including the Department of Transport and Alto. This is part of his general duties. The Minister of Finance has no responsibility regarding Alto and cannot influence its actions.
Conservative
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Commissioner, what is the exact date the minister asked for your opinion regarding a possible appearance of a conflict of interest?
Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I will ask my colleague to provide you with the date.
Director, Advisory and Compliance, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
As the minister said, he first contacted our office in August 2025.
Director, Advisory and Compliance, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
It was during a conversation.
Bloc
Director, Advisory and Compliance, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I believe an email was sent to our office following that conversation. In the fall, we received a copy of the letter the minister mentioned.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
I did not receive an answer to my question.
I have concerns about conflicts of interest. He consulted you verbally, not through a letter. You said it was a conversation.
Director, Advisory and Compliance, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes, we had that conversation in August 2025.
Director, Advisory and Compliance, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
We responded to him during the conversation, as far as I understand.
