Liberal minister’s sister-in-law appointed as interim ethics commissioner

OTTAWA – The sister-in-law of a Liberal cabinet minister has been named interim ethics commissioner as her office launches a search for a permanent new conflict-of-interest watchdog.

Martine Richard, who has been employed in the office as a lawyer since 2013, was appointed for the six-month stint this week.

Richard is the sister-in-law of Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner says that as a result, she has had a screen in place for her entire tenure.

The spokesperson said the screen is designed to shield the person from becoming aware of a situation that would place them in a potential conflict.

LeBlanc was found to have breached conflict-of-interest rules in 2018 for approving a lucrative fishing licence for a company run by a family member while he was fisheries minister.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2023.