I don't agree with those who are worried about what can happen if apparent or perceived conflict is regulated. That's a well-established legal principle—over hundreds of years—based on what a reasonable person fully apprised of all the facts would think. Unlike at the municipal level in Ontario, at the federal level our commissioners are all lawyers and they're trained in this. This is applying a fairly standard, centuries-tested legal test to determine what a reasonable person would perceive. I think it would be, in the long run, beneficial and more helpful to address these perceived problems, as well as substantial ones.
I agree that by dealing with the perception, you can reduce the frequency of the actual.