Former cabinet minister turned Manitoba judge broke ethics law: commissioner
OTTAWA — Canada’s former public safety minister has had his wrist slapped by the federal ethics commissioner for violating conflict of interest rules — and a democracy watchdog wants the Canadian Judicial Council to review the matter.
Vic Toews, who is now a judge in Manitoba, violated the Conflict of Interest Act twice in the months following his departure from politics in 2013 by working for two First Nations with which he had direct dealings during his time in office.
Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson released her report Friday, two years after initial complaints were made about Toews’ post-cabinet activities.
The 41-page report finds Toews was hired to do lobbying and consulting work on behalf of two First Nations in Manitoba in the months after he left office. The contracts violated two different aspects of the Conflict of Interest Act.