The High Authority exchanges views with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner of Canada

On September 9, 2021, the President of the High Authority, Didier Migaud, spoke by videoconference with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner of Canada, Mario Dion.

Following the fruitful exchange with the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada in June, the High Authority was keen to hear about the Canadian model for preventing conflicts of interest of parliamentarians, members of the government and public office holders over whom the Commissioner is competent.

Mario Dion covered the rules enshrined in Canadian law on conflict of interest with regard to post-employment (revolving doors) of public officials, on the information they must disclose and on investigations that the Commissioner has recently conducted. Sanctions for breaches of legal obligations were also discussed.

After the presentation of case studies by the Commissioner’s team and that of the High Authority, participants discussed their respective strategies of publication of the opinions, the perception of the restrictions that accompany post-employment measures and the assessment of the risks posed by a professional retraining project.

The High Authority intends to continue this type of exchange with the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner of Canada and welcomes such collaboration.