Ottawa/CMEDIA: An investigation into the conduct of International Trade Minister Mary Ng has been opened by Mario Dion, the federal ethics commissioner over a contract Mary had given to a company co-founded by a Liberal strategist.
Dion had been asked by the Conservative MP James Bezan to examine the contract awarded to the firm Pomp and Circumstance by Ng’s office for media training in spring 2020.
Although the contract itself was worth only about $17,000, the deal raised questions, the Tories said if there was a breach of any conflict-of-interest rules because Amanda Alvaro, one of the firm’s co-founders, is allegedly Ng’s friend.
Pointing to several sections of the Conflict of Interest Act Bezan said Dion could investigate to see if any rules were broken.
A spokesperson for Ng reportedly said that contracts are reviewed to ensure adherence to procurement protocols and the minister “has always rigorously followed all the rules.”
#MaryNg; #EthicsProbe
