Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson is reviewing whether she has 鈥渞easonable grounds to believe that there has been a contravention鈥� of the Conflict of Interest Act by Jason MacDonald, the prime minister鈥檚 former spokesman.
MacDonald served until March as Director of Communications in the PMO and to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANCD).
Two months after leaving government, he contacted AANDC Director General Bernard Etzinger to discuss federal contracts, sources told CTV鈥檚 Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife.
Sources say they arranged a meeting at a Starbucks with Hill+Knowlton vice-president David Rodier, now on leave from Hill+Knowlton to work on the Liberal campaign.
Hill+Knowlton was later awarded two contracts by AANDC for communications advice. One was worth $12,658 and the other $15,809.
The Conflict of Interest Act prohibits former ministerial staff from 鈥渕aking representations鈥� to any government organization with which they had 鈥渟ignificant dealings鈥� for one year after leaving office.
鈥淎t this time, Commissioner Dawson is reviewing whether she has reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a contravention of the Act,鈥� her office told 麻豆影视 on Wednesday.
MacDonald issued a statement Tuesday saying he is 鈥渃onscious of the rules governing the activities of designated public office holders once they leave government.鈥�
鈥淎ll of my post-government activities are in compliance with those rules.鈥�
NDP candidate Charlie Angus said he wants Dawson to launch an immediate investigation.
鈥淵ou just step out of the prime minister鈥檚 office, go into private practice, step back in and contracts get awarded,鈥� said Angus.
With a report from CTV鈥檚 Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife
