http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justice-minister-bay-street-fundrasier-1.3530707
Jody Wilson-Raybould defends $500-a-plate fundraiser
Justice minister consulted ethics commissioner only after CBC News reported she would attend event
By John Paul Tasker, CBC News Posted: Apr 11, 2016 6:16 PM ET
Conservatives challenge Justice Minister on her attendance at a party fundraiser last Thursday
1:53
Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould faced an
onslaught of criticism from the opposition Monday for her appearance at a
$500-a-plate fundraiser at a top Bay Street law firm.
Jody Wilson-Raybould, a lawyer, said she attended the Toronto event as a member of Parliament, and she followed all the fundraising rules outlined in the Canada Elections Act.
"Fundraising is an activity that every member of this House engages in," the Vancouver-area minister said. "I would never place myself in a conflict of interest, and that is why I proactively engaged with the conflict of interest and ethics commissioner prior to attending this event. I take my ethical responsibilities incredibly seriously."
But the opposition rejected that defence, adding it's unlikely Toronto-based lawyers were interested in her work on behalf of the constituents of Vancouver–Granville.
Moreover, Wilson-Raybould only sought the advice of the ethics commissioner after CBC News first reported she would be the star attraction at the event sponsored by Torys LLP, an international business law firm.
In an email to invited guests, one of the organizers at Torys wrote, "In her new role, she has an extraordinary mandate which includes an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, the legalization of marijuana and assisted-dying legislation. This will be the minister's first private event in Toronto!" adding that attendees of the event are "fortunate to have secured an evening of her time."
The justice minister conceded that her policy adviser, Jessica Prince, was also at the event, but she attended not as a political operative but rather as a volunteer that paid her own way.
The Liberal Party also paid for the costs associated with the event, and Torys regularly makes its space available for a variety of non-profit and charitable causes.
Conservative MP Michael Cooper branded the fundraiser as a classic case of "pay for play," whereby high-powered attorneys could get face time with the minister in exchange for generous donations.
But Wilson-Raybould batted away that suggestion saying that they simply talked about "Canada," and how "the justice minister can be an aboriginal person, and also be a woman. That's what this country is about."
Cooper doubled down asking the minister to "clear the stench from this sordid Liberal fundraising affair," by releasing a list of attendees. Liberal House leader Dominic LeBlanc said that those names would be included in the party's fundraising reports to Elections Canada.
"The member knows full well all of those donations are disclosed, according to law, every quarter. The member can spend the whole evening searching the internet — good news it's coming to a computer near him."
But that report simply documents the names of all the people who donated more than $200 to the party in a three-month period, it would not explicitly list those who attended the event in question.
LeBlanc also raised the irony of the Conservatives flagging potentially problematic fundraising issues when members of their own party have faced jail time for election expenses.
Former MP Dean Del Mastro was escorted out of a Peterborough, Ont. court in shackles last summer after being found guilty of breaking the law by overspending during the 2008 federal election. He recently lost an appeal.
Former heritage minister Shelly Glover also faced criticism for hosting members of Winnipeg's arts community at her home, in exchange for donations to the party. She was ultimately cleared by the ethics commissioner.
In the mandate letters Trudeau gave each minister and parliamentary
secretary, he made it clear he expected cabinet to read and adhere to a
code of ethics.
It says ministers should ensure the solicitation of political contributions on their behalf does not target "departmental stakeholders." The document defines a stakeholder as individuals who work for or represent corporations and organizations that have current or anticipated official dealings with the minister, their staff or the department.
The code instructs members of cabinet that there should be "no preferential access to government or appearance of preferential access" for those who donate to politicians and political parties.
With files from the CBC's Alison CrawfordJody Wilson-Raybould, a lawyer, said she attended the Toronto event as a member of Parliament, and she followed all the fundraising rules outlined in the Canada Elections Act.
"Fundraising is an activity that every member of this House engages in," the Vancouver-area minister said. "I would never place myself in a conflict of interest, and that is why I proactively engaged with the conflict of interest and ethics commissioner prior to attending this event. I take my ethical responsibilities incredibly seriously."
- Justice minister says she attended Liberal fundraiser with lawyers as a regular MP
- Law firm playing host to Liberal fundraiser with justice minister had lobbyist in ranks
- Justin Trudeau defends Liberal ethics record amid fundraising controversy
- Federal justice minister to attend $500-a-head Liberal Party event at law firm
But the opposition rejected that defence, adding it's unlikely Toronto-based lawyers were interested in her work on behalf of the constituents of Vancouver–Granville.
Moreover, Wilson-Raybould only sought the advice of the ethics commissioner after CBC News first reported she would be the star attraction at the event sponsored by Torys LLP, an international business law firm.
In an email to invited guests, one of the organizers at Torys wrote, "In her new role, she has an extraordinary mandate which includes an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, the legalization of marijuana and assisted-dying legislation. This will be the minister's first private event in Toronto!" adding that attendees of the event are "fortunate to have secured an evening of her time."
The justice minister conceded that her policy adviser, Jessica Prince, was also at the event, but she attended not as a political operative but rather as a volunteer that paid her own way.
The Liberal Party also paid for the costs associated with the event, and Torys regularly makes its space available for a variety of non-profit and charitable causes.
'Pay for play'
Conservative MP Michael Cooper branded the fundraiser as a classic case of "pay for play," whereby high-powered attorneys could get face time with the minister in exchange for generous donations.
But Wilson-Raybould batted away that suggestion saying that they simply talked about "Canada," and how "the justice minister can be an aboriginal person, and also be a woman. That's what this country is about."
Cooper doubled down asking the minister to "clear the stench from this sordid Liberal fundraising affair," by releasing a list of attendees. Liberal House leader Dominic LeBlanc said that those names would be included in the party's fundraising reports to Elections Canada.
"The member knows full well all of those donations are disclosed, according to law, every quarter. The member can spend the whole evening searching the internet — good news it's coming to a computer near him."
But that report simply documents the names of all the people who donated more than $200 to the party in a three-month period, it would not explicitly list those who attended the event in question.
LeBlanc also raised the irony of the Conservatives flagging potentially problematic fundraising issues when members of their own party have faced jail time for election expenses.
Former MP Dean Del Mastro was escorted out of a Peterborough, Ont. court in shackles last summer after being found guilty of breaking the law by overspending during the 2008 federal election. He recently lost an appeal.
Former heritage minister Shelly Glover also faced criticism for hosting members of Winnipeg's arts community at her home, in exchange for donations to the party. She was ultimately cleared by the ethics commissioner.
Former Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro was
sentenced to one month in prison, followed by four months of house
arrest, for breaking the law by overspending during the 2008 federal
election. (CBC )
It says ministers should ensure the solicitation of political contributions on their behalf does not target "departmental stakeholders." The document defines a stakeholder as individuals who work for or represent corporations and organizations that have current or anticipated official dealings with the minister, their staff or the department.
The code instructs members of cabinet that there should be "no preferential access to government or appearance of preferential access" for those who donate to politicians and political parties.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/justice-minister-under-fire-for-her-husbands-lobbying-of-government-on-behalf-of-first-nations
Justice minister under fire for her husband’s lobbying of government on behalf of First Nations
(Photo by Kim
Stallknecht/Postmedia)Jody Wilson-Raybould
hugs spouse Tim Raybould after winning election in Vancouver on Oct. 19,
2015.
OTTAWA — Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, one of the most powerful
voices for First Nations in the new Trudeau government, is facing criticism over
her husband’s decision to register as a lobbyist shortly after the October
federal election.
Tim Raybould, who has a doctorate from Cambridge University, was until the election a partner with his spouse in a private company, called the KaLoNa Group, specializing in consulting work relating to self-government issues.
He hadn’t been on the federal lobbyist registry since early 2011, but he filed in late January of this year on behalf of two clients.
They are the self-governing Westbank First Nation in the Kelowna area, a longtime KaLoNa client which is one of B.C.’s wealthiest bands, and the First Nations Finance Authority, a not-for-profit based at Westbank that provides loans and financial advice to First Nations.
An ethics expert said Tim Raybould should shed his lobbying activities, since
continuation would violate both the Conflict of Interest Act and Trudeau’s own
guidelines for ministers.
Wilson-Raybould, former B.C. regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations, was named after the federal election as justice minister, heading a department engaged in numerous law suits involving First Nations. She is also on six cabinet committees, including one responsible for examining “initiatives designed to strengthen the relationship with indigenous Canadians.”
“I don’t think her husband can lobby the federal government,” said Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch and a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa.
The federal law requires a public office holder to “arrange his or her private affairs in a manner that will prevent the public office holder from being in a conflict of interest.”
A conflict is defined as the use of official power “to further his or her private interests or those of his or her relatives or friends or to improperly further another person’s private interests.”
Trudeau went a step further than existing legislation in December when he made public his “Open and Accountable Government” policy statement that contained three key components:
• Ministers “must avoid conflict of interest, the appearance of conflict of interest and situations that have the potential to involve conflicts of interest.”
• Public office holders “shall act with honesty and uphold the highest ethical standards so that public confidence and trust in the integrity, objectivity and impartiality of the government are conserved and enhanced.”
• “Public office holders have an obligation to perform their official duties and arrange their private affairs in a manner that will bear the closest public scrutiny, an obligation that is not fully discharged by simply acting within the law.”
Conacher alleged that the Wilson-Raybould situation has not met this standard.
“The appearance of a conflict is apparent just from the fact that he was hired to lobby for these entities soon after she became minister,” he said. “It raises the question why, if he is so good at what he does, did they not have him as a lobbyist in past years when the Liberals were not in power and she was not an MP or the minister?”
He also questioned the tangible effect of her split with KaLoNa.
“I assume her husband and her share their incomes and expenses, so she still has a financial interest in his income even if she has sold her interest in the company.”
Wilson-Raybould, in addition to her work in aboriginal politics, was from 2004 until the October election a lawyer and chief executive officer with KaLoNa.
Both the minister and her husband said in separate statements that they are
working with Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson to ensure
all real and potential conflicts are avoided.
“The minister of justice believes in the principles of openness and transparency,” said the minister’s spokeswoman, Joanne Ghiz. “She takes her ethical obligations very seriously and is taking all steps to avoid any conflicts of interest and, more importantly, prevent the perception of one.”
Tim Raybould, noting that he’s met separately with Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd, pledged that he won’t ever be in a conflict position.
“Nor will I place her in a position of conflict,” he added in an emailed statement.
KaLoNa is a “consulting firm providing negotiation support, policy advice and educational services primarily to First Nations governments, institutions, and associations,” according to the minister’s LinkedIn profile.
Conacher, anticipating that Dawson will confirm an agreement requiring Wilson-Raybould to leave the room if any matters relating to her husband’s lobbying come up in official meetings, said that wouldn’t be sufficient.
The Lobbyist Registration Act, as well as Trudeau’s own December policy, indicate that ‘inherently, recusal is not enough,’” he said.
Tim Raybould, who has a doctorate from Cambridge University, was until the election a partner with his spouse in a private company, called the KaLoNa Group, specializing in consulting work relating to self-government issues.
He hadn’t been on the federal lobbyist registry since early 2011, but he filed in late January of this year on behalf of two clients.
They are the self-governing Westbank First Nation in the Kelowna area, a longtime KaLoNa client which is one of B.C.’s wealthiest bands, and the First Nations Finance Authority, a not-for-profit based at Westbank that provides loans and financial advice to First Nations.
THE CANADIAN PRESS.Adrian
WyldMinister of Justice and Attorney General
of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould answers a question during Question Period in the
House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Jan.26, 2016.
Wilson-Raybould, former B.C. regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations, was named after the federal election as justice minister, heading a department engaged in numerous law suits involving First Nations. She is also on six cabinet committees, including one responsible for examining “initiatives designed to strengthen the relationship with indigenous Canadians.”
“I don’t think her husband can lobby the federal government,” said Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch and a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa.
The federal law requires a public office holder to “arrange his or her private affairs in a manner that will prevent the public office holder from being in a conflict of interest.”
A conflict is defined as the use of official power “to further his or her private interests or those of his or her relatives or friends or to improperly further another person’s private interests.”
Trudeau went a step further than existing legislation in December when he made public his “Open and Accountable Government” policy statement that contained three key components:
• Ministers “must avoid conflict of interest, the appearance of conflict of interest and situations that have the potential to involve conflicts of interest.”
• Public office holders “shall act with honesty and uphold the highest ethical standards so that public confidence and trust in the integrity, objectivity and impartiality of the government are conserved and enhanced.”
• “Public office holders have an obligation to perform their official duties and arrange their private affairs in a manner that will bear the closest public scrutiny, an obligation that is not fully discharged by simply acting within the law.”
Conacher alleged that the Wilson-Raybould situation has not met this standard.
“The appearance of a conflict is apparent just from the fact that he was hired to lobby for these entities soon after she became minister,” he said. “It raises the question why, if he is so good at what he does, did they not have him as a lobbyist in past years when the Liberals were not in power and she was not an MP or the minister?”
I assume her husband and her share their incomes and expenses, so she still has a financial interest in his income even if she has sold her interest in the company.He said politicians, political staff and senior bureaucrats dealing with Tim Raybould will all know his spouse is one of the government’s most powerful players, creating a potential incentive to favour him, even though the federal law prohibits favouritism.
He also questioned the tangible effect of her split with KaLoNa.
“I assume her husband and her share their incomes and expenses, so she still has a financial interest in his income even if she has sold her interest in the company.”
Wilson-Raybould, in addition to her work in aboriginal politics, was from 2004 until the October election a lawyer and chief executive officer with KaLoNa.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian
Wyld
“The minister of justice believes in the principles of openness and transparency,” said the minister’s spokeswoman, Joanne Ghiz. “She takes her ethical obligations very seriously and is taking all steps to avoid any conflicts of interest and, more importantly, prevent the perception of one.”
Tim Raybould, noting that he’s met separately with Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd, pledged that he won’t ever be in a conflict position.
“Nor will I place her in a position of conflict,” he added in an emailed statement.
KaLoNa is a “consulting firm providing negotiation support, policy advice and educational services primarily to First Nations governments, institutions, and associations,” according to the minister’s LinkedIn profile.
Conacher, anticipating that Dawson will confirm an agreement requiring Wilson-Raybould to leave the room if any matters relating to her husband’s lobbying come up in official meetings, said that wouldn’t be sufficient.
The Lobbyist Registration Act, as well as Trudeau’s own December policy, indicate that ‘inherently, recusal is not enough,’” he said.
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