Chief of Staff's Ethics Comparison Sparks Political Backlash
Prime Minister Mark Carney's chief of staff, Marc-André Blanchard, faced sharp criticism from Conservative MPs on Thursday after he compared the extensive ethics screen surrounding the prime minister to the situation involving Stephen Harper's former chief of staff, the late Nigel Wright.
Blanchard appeared before the ethics committee this week as one of two senior public servants called to testify about the review of the Conflict of Interest Act. The testimony quickly turned contentious when Blanchard repeatedly referenced Wright's circumstances from over a decade ago.
Defending Private Sector Experience
In his opening remarks, Blanchard vigorously defended Carney's background, arguing that Canadians specifically elected him because of his extensive private sector experience. "Canadians chose Mark Carney as prime minister because of his deep experience in both the public and private sectors," Blanchard stated. "In fact, they did not elect him in spite of his vast global private sector experience, but precisely because of it."
He emphasized that this experience was essential for building what he described as "the strongest economy in the G7." Before entering politics, Carney served as chairman of Brookfield Asset Management, a financial giant with approximately US$1 trillion in assets under management. His roles also included helping lead capital-raising efforts for two major Brookfield clean energy funds and serving on the board of directors for Stripe Inc.
Extensive Ethics Measures Implemented
When Carney became Liberal leader in March, he placed all his assets, excluding personal real estate, into a blind trust. In July, federal ethics commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein determined that Carney would need to adhere to an ethics screen covering more than 100 companies.
This comprehensive screen is designed to prevent potential conflicts of interest with numerous entities, including Brookfield Corporation, Brookfield Asset Management, and Stripe Inc., among other organizations where Carney maintains interests.
Blanchard drew direct parallels to Nigel Wright's situation, noting that Wright had joined Harper's office in 2010 after a substantial private sector career. Wright had similarly placed his assets in a blind trust and was subject to an ethics screen to prevent involvement in discussions concerning his former employer, Onex Corporation. "It's exactly the same kind of case situation," Blanchard asserted during the committee meeting, referencing Wright's circumstances multiple times.
Conservative Pushback and Ethical Distinctions
Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett strongly objected to the comparison, highlighting the fundamental difference in positions and authority. "I appreciate that it may be similar, but the chief of staff to the prime minister is not the prime minister," Barrett countered. "The chief of staff does not have the ability to take the decisions and does not have the influence that the prime minister has."
Conservative MP Shuv Majumdar, who knew Wright personally, offered a different perspective on the late chief of staff's character. Majumdar described Wright as "one of the most ethical people" he had known, further complicating Blanchard's attempted comparison.
The exchange at the ethics committee underscores the ongoing political tensions surrounding Prime Minister Carney's extensive financial background and the significant measures required to manage potential conflicts of interest within the highest levels of government.
