'What is a conflict of interest, anyway?' The imagined thoughts of Mark Carney's ethics disclosures
Article content
Carney's years of helping to oversee the trillion-dollar portfolio of Brookfield Asset Management gave him an equity stake over dozens of companies whose fortunes are likely to be directly impacted by the policies of his government.
Article content
Article content
And so, the Ethics Commissioner has accepted a complex arrangement wherein any time one of 103 Carney-linked companies comes up in cabinet discussions, he's supposed to leave the room while declaring that he's doing so.
Article content
Article content
But no, it turns out that all these assets were seen as a liability. A bad thing. The commissioner was prejudicially assuming that just because Mr. Carney happened to own substantial shares of a few dozen companies, this was itself evidence that he would use his public influence for personal gain. For shame, I say. Look within your heart, Canada. An intelligent, beautiful man volunteers to be your prime minister and your first impulse is to assume that he must only be doing it for selfish reasons?
Article content
Article content
Article content
What is a conflict of interest, anyway? Mr. Carney is a bipedal mammal who requires oxygen for cellular respiration. Does that put him at a 'conflict of interest' if he takes pro-oxygen positions in public life?
Article content
I have known Mr. Carney to ride inside automobiles manufactured by Mercedes, Lexus and, if he's slumming it, Volkswagen. Does that put him at a 'conflict of interest' when it comes to foreign relations with the respective governments of Germany and Japan?
Article content
By your logic, surely his appreciation of the elegant and responsive interior of the 2025 E-class would instantly transform him into a Manchurian candidate loyal only to the whims of Mercedes-Benz AG and the Chancellor of Germany, in that order.
Article content
Perhaps your next ethical disclosure should uncompromisingly litigate everything that has ever given Mr. Carney joy or satisfaction of any kind. Did he once enjoy a matinee screening of Ladri di biciclette? Watch out; because that surely means he'll sell us out to Italy at the first opportunity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
20 minutes ago
- Vancouver Sun
'Dangerous and premature': Canada's Jewish advocacy groups decry Carney's Palestinian announcement
Jewish groups in Canada reacted swiftly and negatively to Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement Wednesday that the country will recognize a State of Palestine at the United Nations in September. Carney told reporters that the recognition was conditional on the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, going forward with significant reforms including demilitarization and holding a general election in 2026. He also accused the Israeli government of failing to 'prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza.' Today, the Prime Minister stated that Canada will pre-emptively recognize a Palestinian state. This is predicated on misplaced faith in vague commitments by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, notorious for his corruption, lack of democratic credibility, and funding of… Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, released a statement Wednesday on what the group called 'Canada's Middle East Position.' The CIJA is the advocacy agent of Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, representing Jewish Federations across Canada. 'Today, the Prime Minister stated that Canada will pre-emptively recognize a Palestinian state,' Shack said. 'This is predicated on misplaced faith in vague commitments by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, notorious for his corruption, lack of democratic credibility, and funding of terrorists.' He continued: 'Extending recognition absent real change on the ground is a recipe for another failed Palestinian pseudo-state controlled by terrorists. It is deeply concerning that the government did not make statehood recognition contingent on the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the return of Israeli hostages. This only emboldens Hamas and condemns Palestinians and Israelis — including the hostages and their families — to more suffering. 'Our community seeks an end to this painful conflict and a better future where Israelis and Palestinians can coexist in peace. As the Prime Minister previously said, this requires a Palestinian state to be Zionist — affirming the right of a democratic, Jewish state to exist in safety. Pre-emptive recognition of a Palestinian state undermines this core principle.' The organization also has information on how to contact Carney with the message: 'Real peace = no failed terror state.' B'nai Brith Canada is deeply concerned following Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement Wednesday evening that his Government intends to recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations (UN) 80th General Assembly in September. "This decision is dangerously premature,'… B'nai Brith Canada echoed that sentiment, calling Carney's announcement 'dangerous and premature.' 'As the Government's intent to recognize a Palestinian state is predicated on the Palestinian Authority (PA)'s commitment to democratic reform and demilitarization, B'nai Brith Canada questions whether the PA can be trusted as a legitimate state actor and partner in the peace process,' said Richard Robertson, the organization's director of research and advocacy. 'Although Canada should play a leading role in securing an end to the Israel-Palestine conflict, recognizing Palestine as a state at this juncture would be premature and could undermine efforts to achieve a lasting peace,' he continued. 'Such a decision could also be leveraged by anti-Israel extremists as an endorsement of their vitriolic actions that have been fomenting hate across Canada.' Avi Abraham Benlolo, CEO and chair of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative and a National Post columnist, took to social media to announce that the AGPI 'D enounces Canada's Announcement to recognize a Palestinian State (and) Calls on Canadians to take Action.' AGPI Denounces Canada's Announcement to recognize a Palestinian State, Calls on Canadians to take Action. @MarkJCarney @CdnPressNews #cdnpoli @CBC 'Canada's endorsement of a Palestinian state — without a roadmap for peace or clarity on borders, leadership, or governance — is not a step toward peace; it is a reward for terrorism,' he said on the group's website . 'Prime Minister Mark Carney does not have a plan. There is no agreement between the two parties. A two-state solution cannot be imposed from abroad — it must be the outcome of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. And yet none of that is happening.' The group is calling on supporters 'to immediately contact Members of Parliament in their ridings and across the country to express deep dissatisfaction with this dangerous and short-sighted decision.' [related_links / Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Edmonton Journal
20 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
'Dangerous and premature': Canada's Jewish advocacy groups decry Carney's Palestinian announcement
Jewish groups in Canada reacted swiftly and negatively to Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement Wednesday that the country will recognize a State of Palestine at the United Nations in September. Article content Carney told reporters that the recognition was conditional on the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, going forward with significant reforms including demilitarization and holding a general election in 2026. He also accused the Israeli government of failing to 'prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza.' Article content Today, the Prime Minister stated that Canada will pre-emptively recognize a Palestinian state. This is predicated on misplaced faith in vague commitments by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, notorious for his corruption, lack of democratic credibility, and funding of… — CIJA (@CIJAinfo) July 30, 2025 Article content Article content Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, released a statement Wednesday on what the group called 'Canada's Middle East Position.' The CIJA is the advocacy agent of Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, representing Jewish Federations across Canada. Article content 'Today, the Prime Minister stated that Canada will pre-emptively recognize a Palestinian state,' Shack said. 'This is predicated on misplaced faith in vague commitments by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, notorious for his corruption, lack of democratic credibility, and funding of terrorists.' Article content He continued: 'Extending recognition absent real change on the ground is a recipe for another failed Palestinian pseudo-state controlled by terrorists. It is deeply concerning that the government did not make statehood recognition contingent on the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the return of Israeli hostages. This only emboldens Hamas and condemns Palestinians and Israelis — including the hostages and their families — to more suffering.
National Post
20 minutes ago
- National Post
edatanetworks Inc. Receives Approval for Online-to-Offline Digital Commerce Patent from USPTO
Article content EDMONTON, Alberta — edatanetworks Inc. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has approved a continuation of patent 12,039,562. This continuation further strengthens edatanetworks' intellectual property portfolio, reinforcing the company's leadership in bridging online advertising to offline commerce through its proprietary Click2Sale technology. Article content The patent is a continuation in a family of patents that protect the core mechanisms that enable merchants to quantify the impact of digital marketing efforts on in-store sales. This patent expands the Click2Sale digital asset, which facilitates the measurement of return on advertising investment by linking online consumer interactions with secure, tokenized transaction data. By doing so, verifiable and actionable insights are delivered to merchants – while also enabling merchant-funded, consumer-directed contributions that create impact for local organizations. This innovation ensures that small and medium businesses can benefit from measurable, accountable marketing that drives both sales and customer loyalty. Article content Article content 'The approval of this continuation underscores our commitment to building a robust IP foundation for online-to-offline commerce,' said Terry Tietzen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of edatanetworks. 'Click2Sale transforms how local merchants validate their marketing spend by delivering measurable results tied directly to consumer purchases—empowering the merchant while enriching communities.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
