Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc on Tuesday in an ethics filing promised to avoid all discussions benefiting J.D. Irving Ltd., which is based in his home province.
Irving is one of the largest private employers in New Brunswick — and operator of the biggest oil refinery in the country. Federal judges have ruled so-called “conflict of interest screens” are legal, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
Irving President and CEO James D. Irving is a close friend of LeBlanc's.
“The Ethics Commissioner and I have agreed a conflict of interest screen is an appropriate compliance measure for me aimed at preventing any opportunity to further the private interests of my friend James D. Irving, president and CEO of J.D. Irving Limited, including J.D. Irving Limited, its subsidiaries, affiliates, associates, divisions and any legal form of business or give preferential treatment to any of them while I exercise my official powers,” wrote LeBlanc.
The two New Brunswickers are such close friends LeBlanc earlier used an Irving corporate jet to attend medical appointments in Montréal. LeBlanc’s conflict screen is the most sweeping signed by a finance minister involving a federally-regulated contractor.
Irving companies manage timberlands, shipyards, freight shippers, sawmills and pulp and paper mills. Irving subsidiaries also sell consumer products like Royale-brand tissue paper and Cavendish frozen foods.
“I have agreed to recuse myself from any discussion or decision in relation to my friend’s private interests including his business interests,” wrote LeBlanc.
“I also agree not to have any communication with government officials in relation to any matter or decision-making process which I or my administrator knows or reasonably should know would affect Mr. Irving’s interests.”
“This screen is administered by my chief of staff and the deputy minister of finance to ensure I am neither made aware of nor participate in any official matters or decision-making processes involving Mr. Irving’s interests.”
“I will participate in decisions or matters of general application and those that may affect Mr. Irving’s interests as a member of a broad class of persons unless those interests are disproportionate to the other members of the class.”
The Federal Court of Appeal earlier dismissed a challenge of conflict screens by the advocacy group Democracy Watch.
“It’s a charade,” founder Duff Conacher said in an earlier interview.
“It’s a scam and we believe it is illegal. The conflict of interest screen allows ministers’ or other public office holders’ conflicts of interest to be hidden from the public when the Act says they must be disclosed.”
The Court in 2018 ruled screens were lawful.
“Screens are meant to prevent conflicts of interest from actually arising by identifying in advance the potential for conflict and establishing a means to avoid it,” wrote the Court.
“In other words, the purpose of the screens is to divert away the potential conflicts before they are brought to the public office holder’s attention. As a result, the public office holder is never even aware of the matter.”