WEAK GOVERNANCE IN OTTAWA IS BEHIND MORNEAU’S MESS
Posted on: November 3, 2017
OPINION
“WEAK GOVERNANCE IN OTTAWA IS BEHIND MORNEAU’S MESS”
GARFIELD EMERSON
CONTRIBUTED TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL
NOVEMBER 2, 2017, REPORT ON BUSINESS, PAGE B4.
“Bill Morneau’s alleged conflict of interest as Minister of Finance reflects a continuation of the federal government’s deficient regime to deal with the incompatibility of public duties and private benefits.
“Successive Liberal and Conservative governments have failed by not passing effective conflict laws for holders of public office. The Conservatives’ February, 2014, report reviewing the Conflict of Interest Act ignored substantive recommendations in expert submissions, including from the Office of Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. It dismissed the findings of the 2010 Oliphant Commission that looked into conflicts in the country’s highest political offices. The NDP issued a convincing dissent, while the Liberals filed a short minority opinion simply calling the report a “complete farce.”
“The Liberals, however, switched sides in the recent debate over Mr. Morneau’s possible conflicts, defeating a House motion calling on the Trudeau government to close the loopholes in the Conflict of Interest Act, including private holding companies to shield conflicted assets.
“The Office of Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson recently advised that other federal ministers – “fewer than five” – also hold controlled assets indirectly. Those other unnamed ministers should be required to publicly disclose their identities and circumstances. The public trust in the integrity of responsible government overrules confidentiality and private interests. Secrecy of possible conflicts of interest by members of Her Majesty’s Privy Council is unacceptable. A true and faithful servant of the Crown does not harbour any conflict of interest within the functioning of his or her office.
“With respect to Mr. Morneau, his defences are untenable from a public-policy perspective. As Finance Minister responsible for regulating the pension industry, he owned substantial holdings in Morneau Shepell Inc. He joined Morneau Shepell in 1987, went on to become chairman and CEO, then resigned as executive chairman after being elected to Parliament. An expert in pensions, Mr. Morneau was pension investment adviser to the Ontario Ministry of Finance in 2012. An Ontario resident, he transferred his Morneau Shepell shares to his private holding company, which was incorporated in Alberta’s lower tax jurisdiction. While Finance Minister, he sponsored Bill C-27 – pension legislation that could directly benefit Morneau Shepell’s business.
“Mr. Morneau justified his alleged conflicted share ownership with three factual but unpersuasive explanations:
“1. He was told by the Conflicts Commissioner that having the shares in his holding company was legal, and he did not have to use a blind trust or divest them;
“2. With the Conflicts Commissioner’s advice, Mr. Morneau established a conflict-of-interest screen to assist him not to participate in decisions, “other than those of general application,” relating to Morneau Shepell. The screen was administered by Mr. Morneau’s employed chief of staff;
“3. Being wealthy as a result of his success in the private sector, Mr. Morneau said his motivation to enter politics was “to make an impact on our country,” and not for personal gain. His sincerity in this regard is unquestioned.
“His first argument, narrowly based on technicality, fails to respect the ethical spirit behind the Conflict of Interest Act. The veneer of the corporate shield of a controlled company is a pretense, and does not alter the substance of conflicts. It relies on the illusion that form masks reality: Courts have often “pierced the corporate veil.” Also, reliance on the strict letter of the law does not satisfy the public’s expectations for appropriate conduct in Ottawa. Notwithstanding Ms. Dawson’s questionable advice, Mr. Morneau should have known that, as Finance Minister, it was ethically wrong to follow it.
“The second defence is ineffective and a smokescreen. The “ethical wall” does not catch decisions of “general application,” such as the Bill C-27 pension legislation. The screen attempts to transfer accountability to his chief of staff, providing Mr. Morneau with deniability. It is Mr. Morneau, however, who has the obligation to manage his personal conflicts, not his hired hand. Mr. Morneau did not recuse himself from decisions regarding Bill C-27 because it was of “general application.”
“His third defence – “Trust me, I’m rich, don’t need the money, and I will act honourably” – missed the issue at hand entirely. Confidence in the integrity of public-office holders is not founded on individual declarations of incorruptibility and virtuous expressions “to do good.”
“Under attack, Mr. Morneau pledged to sell his holding, enter into a blind trust and donate to charity the gain on his shares since he came to office. His remedial actions confirm he controls those assets and needed to take action to address the conflict of interest allegations as minister. Other ministers should be informed by Mr. Morneau’s lapses in judgment and apply enhanced ethical principles in their public service.
“Voters know that principled behaviour by public officials needs reinforcement by regulation and publicly reported compliance. Sunlight remains the best disinfectant.”