Carney apparently said today that he anticipates there will be conflicts of interest which arise especially related to any matter which might impact Brookfield. Screens will need to be invoked in those situations.
Quote:
New PM Carney anticipating conflict-of-interest screen around Brookfield dealings
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he expects the government's ethics commissioner will recommend he set up a screen around his previous business dealings to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
The newly sworn-in leader has faced repeated questions, which have led to some testy exchanges, about whether his assets, now in a blind trust, open him up to controversy.
"There's a discussion with the ethics commissioner for certain screens around certain issues and that's a process that is underway," said Carney during a news conference in Iqaluit Tuesday, where he reiterated that he believes he's going above and beyond the existing conflict-of-interest rules.
"It's a natural process and of course it's part of the way our system works and I very much respect the system."
Speaking in French, Carney said screens will probably be set up — as they were for former prime ministers Justin Trudeau and Paul Martin as well as several cabinet ministers — and said he and his team have already made proposals.
Carney said, for example, if a government decision were to majorly impact Brookfield Asset Management, that would clearly be a conflict and there would be a screen in place preventing him from weighing in.
Under the Conflict of Interest Act, a screen is agreed upon by a public office holder and the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner to "minimize the possibility of conflicts arising between the public duties of the public office holder and their private interests or those of their relatives and friends."
Screens are made public and include a description of the conflict of interest, the names of the individuals and/or entities involved, the title of the screen administrator and a statement from the public office holder agreeing to abstain from any discussions, decisions, debate or votes concerning the subject of the conflict of interest.
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https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/car...reen-1.7486801
Let's not forget that yesterday Carney was questioned about any potential conflicts of interest and his answer was "what possible conflict would you have". Rosie Barton asked a followed up "Are you saying you are not going to have any conflict of interest?" Carney replied "Yes."
But now we learn that his team has already been making proposals for screens to deal with potential conflicts of interests.