Ethics and transparency activist Duff Conacher files conflict complaint over Michael Chan warrant.

By Sam Cooper | The Bureau

Summary

“I don’t see how the ethics commissioner could find that Blair and Astravas did not violate the Conflict of Interest Act by failing to recuse themselves”: Legal Expert

Duff Conacher, a prominent ethics and transparency activist and co-founder of Democracy Watch, is filing a conflict of interest complaint against former Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and his chief of staff, Zita Astravas. The complaint stems from the delayed approval of a national security warrant targeting Michael Chan, a well-connected Liberal Party fundraiser with ties to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other party leaders.

Conacher argues that both Blair and Astravas should have recused themselves from the warrant approval process due to the clear conflict of interest. He believes that the delay in signing off on the warrant, which was in Blair’s office for at least 54 days, indicates a potential cover-up or actions taken to protect Chan, who was under investigation by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for suspected influence on the Prime Minister’s Office.

The case has sparked debate over the appropriate role of politicians in sensitive security decisions and has raised concerns about the need for systemic reform. Conacher points out that the involvement of Liberals in a decision affecting another Liberal creates the appearance of impropriety.

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