Mary Ng under ethics probe over contract to firm co-founded by Liberal strategist

OTTAWA -

The federal ethics commissioner has opened an investigation into the conduct of Worldwide Commerce Minister Mary Ng over a contract given to an organization co-founded by a Liberal strategist.

Conservative MP James Bezan had requested commissioner Mario Dion to look at the contract awarded to the agency Pomp and Circumstance by Ng's workplace for media coaching in spring 2020.Ng and her former director of communications each obtained the coaching, based on data supplied by the federal government.

The contract itself was value solely about $17,000, however the Tories stated the deal raised questions on whether or not any conflict-of-interest guidelines have been breached as a result of Amanda Alvaro, one of many agency's co-founders, is allegedly Ng's good friend.

The Conservatives level to a tweet Alvaro posted in July 2018, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cupboard and promoted Ng to his interior circle. In her tweet, Alvaro shared a photograph of herself along with her arm round Ng, saying she was celebrating her “expensive good friend.”

Neither Alvaro, nor her agency, instantly responded to a request for touch upon Monday.

In his preliminary request for an investigation,Bezan pointed to a number of sections of the Battle of Curiosity Act, which he stated Dion may examine to see if any guidelines have been damaged.

In a response letter despatched Monday,Dion says he'll study the matter to see if Ng put herself in a battle of curiosity, used any affect to advance somebody's personal curiosity, and recused herself from the choice. He additionally stated he had knowledgeable Ng.

A spokeswoman for Ng says the minister “has all the time rigorously adopted all the foundations” and contracts are reviewed to make sure adherence to procurement protocols.

“Totally different contractors supplied media coaching that have been vital in supporting the minister and members of her communications group to tell Canadian small companies, staff, and households in regards to the helps out there to them on the peak of the pandemic,” Alice Hansen wrote in an announcement to The Canadian Press.

“Minister Ng didn't make the choice on this contract,” Hansen added.

Dion wrote that whereas he'll examine Ng for potential breaches below a number of sections of the federal conflict-of-interest regulation, he would not imagine Alvaro's agency was given preferential remedy as a result of an identical contract was handed to a distinct firm.

“One other firm with no recognized private connection to Ms. Ng was awarded comparable contracts across the identical time,” Dion wrote.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Could 30, 2022.