Ex-fisheries ambassador broke Conflict of Interest Act, ethics commissioner says

OTTAWA – The federal ethics commissioner has found that former fisheries ambassador Loyola Sullivan violated the Conflict of Interest Act.

Mary Dawson released a report today after an investigation into Sullivan’s interactions with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Foreign Affairs after he left his job as fisheries ambassador.

The Act prohibits former public office holders from lobbying government departments during a one-year cooling-off period after they’ve left office.

Sullivan left office in March 2011 and three months later began working as the vice-president of resource management at Ocean Choice International.

In her report, Dawson says Sullivan tried to influence federal decisions on fish quotas during his time with the Newfoundland seafood company.

Dawson’s report also says Sullivan consulted with her office before he took on the job with Ocean Choice International.

The report says at that time, Sullivan told the office his job would serve a corporate role, not an operational one, but she says that was not the case.

Dawson says since Sullivan’s one-year cooling-off period has expired, he faces no repercussions.

Prior to his four-year stint as the fisheries ambassador, Sullivan was a provincial and federal cabinet minister.