Meeting 5 · September 24, 2025 · 16:30–17:35 (1h 5m)
45-11 witness · 63 interventions · 7,286 words
The committee was studying potential changes to the Conflict of Interest Act, including the disclosure of assets by public office holders and the use of blind trusts or ethics screens. The sole witness was Ian Greene, Professor Emeritus at York University, appearing as an individual.
Professor Greene argued that the principle of mutual respect is the foundation of all ethics standards and that the current federal ethics regime, while improved since 2006, still produces more scandals proportionally than provincial systems. He recommended that the Conflict of Interest Act be amended to include apparent conflicts of interest, as the code for MPs already does, and that the appointment process for the Ethics Commissioner be changed to require unanimous support from a multi-party committee, as is done in most provinces. He also suggested that a royal commission or major study examine best practices from other countries and that all political parties be required to develop their own codes of conduct.
On blind trusts, Greene noted that trustees often do not sell assets placed in the trust, meaning the public office holder knows what was deposited, which can undermine the "blind" nature of the arrangement. He acknowledged that ethics screens, such as those set up for Prime Minister Mark Carney, depend heavily on the integrity of the individuals involved and that no system is perfect. He disagreed with the suggestion that the Prime Minister would need to recuse himself frequently under Bill C-5, arguing that most legislation has general application and would only incidentally affect personal assets.
Greene emphasized the importance of proactive ethics advice, including mandatory annual in-person meetings between the Ethics Commissioner and each public office holder, which he said have been critical to the success of provincial and Senate ethics regimes. He also cautioned against overly strict rules that might discourage experienced people from entering public life, noting that the act's objectives include encouraging interchange between the private and public sectors. He supported the proposal to have the Commissioner of Lobbying serve as interim Ethics Commissioner in the event of a vacancy, saying it would strengthen perceptions of independence.
The committee did not debate any motions or procedural matters during this meeting.
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Ian Greene
Professor Emeritus, School of Public Policy & Administration, York University, As an Individual
Opening remarks
Thank you very much. I'm honoured to be asked to address you today. Mr. Chair, I'm impressed with the scholarships that you're providing for students from your riding to study programs such as political science.