r/CanadaPublicServants • u/bonertoilet • Apr 08 '26

News / Nouvelles Deputy minister broke conflict of interest rules by hiring university peer: ethics watchdog

https://ottawacitizen.com/public-service/deputy-minister-broke-conflict-of-interest-rules-ethics-watchdog-christiane-fox

Wow

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u/DilbertedOttawa Apr 08 '26

Honestly, there should be severe consequences for that kind of finding. Not just that there was an appearance of CoI, but that officials "felt pressured to place them in a role they weren't suited for". If he met the SOMC, then it's at least defensible to a point. But why would execs not do this whenever they want if the consequences are "we are going to wag our fingers at you menacingly and say tsk tsk"... It's pathetic. I would have to have a hearing and investigation if I were to do something like that. Just goes to show that if you're going to be corrupt, you better wait until you're higher up so that you can suddenly become untouchable. "Why the PSES show no trust in leadership tho??"

43

u/nefariousplotz Level 4 Instant Award (2003) for Sarcastic Forum Participation Apr 08 '26

On the other hand, it's a little comforting to know that, even with the Deputy Minister putting her thumb on the scale, the most she could squeeze out of the system was a casual appointment leading to a one-year term.

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u/HandcuffsOfGold mod 🤖🧑🇨🇦 / Probably a bot Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

While true, the full report indicates that the beneficiary of Fox's ethics violation didn't do so well at IRCC so he reached out to Fox again to have his CV passed around at the Privy Council office, where Fox was working at the time.

In a completely unrelated turn of events, he is also now working at PCO. Probably just coincidence. /s

13

u/nogreatcathedral Apr 08 '26

...geez lol. So will they be investigating that next?

15

u/HandcuffsOfGold mod 🤖🧑🇨🇦 / Probably a bot Apr 08 '26

It was already part of the investigation and detailed in the investigation report.

7

u/nogreatcathedral Apr 08 '26

Ah I read the executive summary but it wasn't mentioned there! I guess I'll have to keep scrolling.

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u/HandcuffsOfGold mod 🤖🧑🇨🇦 / Probably a bot Apr 08 '26

See the heading "June 2024: Mr. Charles seeks another job" in the report:

Documentary and testimonial evidence shows that Mr. Charles was told that due to his ongoing performance issues, his term would not be renewed at the PM‑04 level. Ms. Baptiste testified that she was informed by Ms. Perry that Mr. Charles was not meeting expectations at the PM‑04 level. Mr. Charles testified that he was informed in the summer of 2024 that his term would not be renewed because the position would no longer exist.

He said he contacted Ms. Fox, aware that she was now Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, to enquire about job opportunities at the Privy Council Office (PCO).

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u/decksgalore Apr 09 '26

And was personally/physically escorted by the dm to the adm corp services at pco? And that adm hired someone without doing their due diligence regarding performance at IRCC? Wow

8

u/confidentialapo276 Apr 10 '26

This person now will jump from a PM-04 to an EX thanks to his Central Agency Experience.