CHEF DU PARTI [)lJ (LANADA I.EADER OF THE NEW PARTY OF CANADA HOUSE or COMMONS CHAMBRES DES COMMUHES CANADA THOMAS MULCAIR DEPUTE, MP, OUTREMONT January 16, 2017 Mary Dawson, Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Parliament of Canada 66 Slater Street, 22nd Floor Ottawa, ON Dear Commissioner, As you are well aware, the Conflict of Interest Act is a critical piece of legislation to ensure accountability in politics and give Canadians faith in the actions of public office holders. We know that the act is inadequate in some important ways you yourself have pointed to the fact that it fails to give you the power to investigate the government?s cash for access scheme. However, it is currently the best tool we have to prevent private interests from inappropriately influencing public decision-making. It is therefore deeply disturbing that the Prime Minister has now admitted to an action that is in clear violation of the Act. Section 12 of the Act expressly prohibits public office holders from accepting rides on private aircraft. But, the Prime Minister admitted that he had indeed used a "private helicopter? to travel to a private island on which he vacationed along with the Liberal Party president and a Liberal MP. Perhaps most troubling is that the Prime Minister doesn?t seem to think there is any problem with him breaking the law. While speaking to media on Thursday, January 12th 2017, when the Prime Minister admitted to use of a private aircraft he also stated, ?We don't see an issue on that." The Prime Minister is sending a message to the rest of Cabinet that it is not important to respect the Conflict of Interest Act, and to Canadians that he is somehow above the law. The Prime Minister has already shown no willingness to hold his Ministers to the standards he laid out in Open and Accountable Government. To now shrug off a violation of the law is an expression of arrogance and an invitation to the entire Cabinet to ignore not only ethical norms but also the law. 0 UTRE MO NT CHAMBRF. DES HOUSE OF COMMONS (ONTARIO) KIA 0A6 302-154. LAURIER QUEST AVE. WI MONTREAL (QUEBEC) HZT 2N7 :613-395-7224 iz-w? :613-895-4565 -2- We believe it is critical that you respond swiftly to this violation in order to defend the importance of the Act. We know you are already looking into the entire trip which the Prime Minister apparently failed to disclose to your office and then tried to hide from the public as well. We recognize that a full investigation of the inappropriate trip may take some time, but the use of private aircraft is a clear-cut violation that could be addressed more swiftly. We are therefore requesting that you fast track this piece of your investigation and that you make a clear declaration that the Prime Minister has broken the law. The Prime Minister has every right to take a vacation. However, like all other Canadians who take vacations, he does not-have the right to break the law. We ask that you address this violation as soon as possible. Sincerely, ?gs M/cam; Hon. Thomas Mulcair, P.C., M.P. (Outremont) Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada Alexandre Boulerice, M.P. (Rosemont La Petite Patrie) NDP Ethics Critic