Conservative Shadow Minister Todd Doherty Responds to LeBlanc Ethics Report

Conservative Shadow Minister for Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Todd Doherty, released a statement today following the Ethics Commissioners Report into former Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Dominic LeBlanc, who was found to violate ethics law with his decision to pursue issuing an Arctic surf clam licence to the Five Nations Clam Company:

“Today, we have seen yet another Liberal cabinet minister found guilty of violating Conflict of Interest laws in the course of carrying out his duties.

“In the case of Minister Leblanc, we have a minister who initiated a bidding process and then sat at the table while his department approved a controversial and lucrative fishing licence with deep ties not only to his own family, but to the Liberal party.

“Canadians expect their elected officials to act with integrity and in their best interests. In failing to recuse himself from a decision that could have enriched his own family, Mr. LeBlanc failed to do both.

“This is just another example, in a laundry list of ethical violations that this Liberal government has committed. There is a clear pattern of Liberals abusing the public trust. Minister Leblanc is at least the fourth Minister to be placed under federal investigation over the past three years, including the Prime Minister himself.

“Sadly, this is what Canadians have come to expect from this Liberal government because Justin Trudeau has set the tone. After becoming the first ever Prime Minister found guilty of violating Conflict of Interest laws, Canadians should not be surprised when Liberal ministers follow his lead.

“Conservatives unequivocally condemn this well-entrenched pattern of behavior inside the Liberal government, where cabinet ministers decide how the laws will apply them, and where the Prime Minister continues to turn a blind eye to the ethical violations of his government. Canadians deserve better and Conservatives will continue holding Liberals to account when they violate the trust Canadians have placed in them.”