International Trade Minister Mary Ng made an apology after the federal ethics commissioner made a finding that she awarded a contract to a friend. The Opposition Conservatives were quick to report that it was not the first time a Liberal cabinet minister has faced such rulings.
Mario Dion’s report was released as a response to a complaint federal Conservative MP James Bezan, the party’s former ethics critic, lodged earlier in the year
Ng’s office awarded a contract to the public relations firm Pomp and Circumstance in the spring of 2020. While it was only worth just under $17,000, Bezan raised concerns over a potential breach of conflict-of-interest rules, given the existence of a friendship between Ng and the firm’s co-founder Amanda Alvaro.
In his report, Dion interviewed Alvaro and Ng and determined that they have been friends for close to 20 years. Dion determined their relationship fits the definition under the Conflict of Interest Act.
Leading up to Ng’s office awarding a contract to Alvaro’s firm, Dion said that in March 2020, when the country was first grappling with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ng “initiated an informal telephone conversation” with her friend to discuss “her concern that she wanted to be best prepared to address Canadians and businesses.”
Ng and Alvaro confirmed to him that they did not discuss a contract with each other, with Ng saying “the entire process was delegated” to her chief of staff, who was aware of the friendship.
“Based on the documents provided by both Ms. Ng and Ms. Alvaro, Ms. Ng does not appear to have been involved in the subsequent discussions pertaining to the negotiation of the final terms of the contract,” Dion reported.
Dion reported that during his probe, Ng disclosed that the firm also received a contract in 2019 for $5,840.
“There is simply no excuse for contracting with a friend’s company,” Dion said in a statement Tuesday.
“This includes the need to quickly obtain media training services to help Minister Ng respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020.”
“Ministers are expected to uphold the highest standards of accountability, including those set out in the Conflict of Interest Act. Complying with the act is a condition of appointment and employment for all public office holders.”
Ng said she accepts “full responsibility” and should have recused herself the decision-making process around the contract when questioned by the House of Commons.
“At no time was there any intention for anyone to benefit inappropriately,” said Ng.
“My efforts fell short of my own high personal standard for transparency and accountability, which Canadians have a right to expect from their elected officials. I am sorry, and it won’t happen again.”
In the House, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on whether the money paid to Alvaro’s firm would be returned.
Trudeau evaded the question, rather electing to make a statement about a byelection win in Ontario for the Liberals on Monday night.
Conservative MP Michael Barrett, who serves as the party’s ethics critic, said Ng is only the latest member of the Liberal cabinet to be found to have broken ethics rules.
And in 2018, Dion ruled that Dominic LeBlanc, Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, contravened the conflict-of-interest rules by approving an Arctic surf clam licence to a company where a relative served as an employee.
“The trend continues now with their trade minister,” Barrett said. He called for Ng to resign.
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