HEALTH MINISTER VOWS TO CO-OPERATE WITH WATCHDOG’S CAR SERVICE PROBE
OTTAWA— Ethics commissioner Mary Dawson said Tuesday she will examine whether Health Minister Jane Philpott violated the Conflict of Interest Act in her use of a high-end car service owned by a Liberal supporter.
Dawson’s probe will focus on a section of the act pertaining to “preferential treatment.” It comes after Conservative health critic Colin Carrie wrote to the commissioner over the revelation that Philpott spent $1,700 on one day for car service and more than $1,900 on another day.
The commissioner cannot comment on the examination because it is being conducted in private, but a public report will be issued once it is complete.
Philpott announced last Thursday she would repay the cost of these trips, totalling just more than $3,700, while admitting these were “excessive costs” related to her work travel.
The minister’s department is also examining 20 rides from her home to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport totalling $3,815, while it also conducts a wide-ranging review of all other ministerial expenses.
She has promised to pay back any other filings deemed to be inappropriate.
Reza Shirani — the owner of the vehicle company who canvassed for the minister during the last federal election — told The Canadian Press the minister was driven in a Lexus ES 300 and admitted he was personally in the driver’s seat on July 12.
On that day, Philpott billed taxpayers a total of $1,994 for transportation around a speaking engagement at the Assembly of First Nations’ annual meeting in Niagara Falls, Ont.
Philpott’s office said Tuesday it has received notice from the commissioner.
“The minister will work in full cooperation with the conflict of interest and ethics commissioner,” it said in a statement.
The minister is also reimbursing taxpayers for $520 for the use of Air Canada lounges in North America and Europe.