Is My MP a Landlord?

Conflict of interest screens are preventive compliance measures, agreed upon pursuant to section 29 of the Conflict of Interest Act (Act) by a public office holder and the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, to assist public office holders in avoiding conflicts of interest. Screens also seek 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.

The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and I have agreed that a conflict of interest screen is an appropriate compliance measure for me, aimed at preventing any opportunity to further the private interests of my relative, Mr. Sheamus Murphy, Managing Partner at Counsel Public Affairs (Counsel), or to give preferential treatment to Counsel as a reporting public office holder.

Accordingly, I have agreed to recuse myself from any discussion or decision in relation to Counsel. I understand that recusal means that I must remove myself from the room, physically or virtually as the case may be.

I also agree not to have any communication with government officials in relation to any matter or decision-making processes which I or the screen administrator know or reasonably should know to affect my relative’s private interest.

This screen is co-administered by my Director of Parliamentary Affairs and the Parliamentary Secretary Assistant in the Minister’s office to ensure that I am neither made aware of nor participate in any official matters or decisions-making processes involving my relative’s private interests, unless the interest relates to a decision or matter that is of general application. I will participate in decisions or matters of general application and those that may affect my relative’s private interests as a member of a broad class of persons unless those interests are disproportionate to the other members of the class.

Any matter that requires my recusal, will be brought to the attention of the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario to identify the person who will be responsible for the issue in lieu of me.

The Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario and all Secretaries of States under the Minister’s responsibility, their ministerial staff, the Deputy Minister and Associate Deputy Ministers of Employment and Social Development Canada, as well as any necessary public servants have been informed in writing about this conflict of interest screen.

I have undertaken to inform the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner at the earliest opportunity of all changes of which I become aware that relate to or should form part of the above list of matters caught by this screen.

In the event that I am made aware of a matter forming part of this screen or any such matter comes before me, I am required under section 21 of the Act to recuse myself from that matter.

I must so inform the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and, where appropriate, make a public declaration of recusal pursuant to subsection 25(1) of the Act.

Mortgage and Line of Credit with Scotiabank, joint with spouse

Last 12 months:

Freelance income from Proof Strategies

Director, Counsel Public Affairs Inc., Toronto, Ontario

Board Member, Empire Club of Canada, Toronto, Ontario

Board Member, Government Relations Institute of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

Board Member, the Toronto St. Paul’s electoral district association of the Liberal Party of Canada

Director, Rossmore Park Holdings Inc, Toronto, Ontario

Significant interest in Counsel Public Affairs Inc., a government relations firm, Toronto, Ontario

Sole owernship of Rossmore Park Holdings Inc., a holding company, Toronto, Ontario

Credit card with TD Canada Trust

Last 12 months:

Employment and dividend income from Counsel Public Affairs

Next 12 months:

Employment income from Counsel Public Affairs

Obligation to provide a confidential report has been met and all initial reporting and compliance measures have been taken to comply with the Conflict of Interest Act.

Divestment of Publicly Traded Securities by the establishment of blind trust(s)

A blind trust established under the Conflict of Interest Act and administered at arm's length