Jobs subsidy for immigration minister's longstanding church raises 'perception' questions: ethics specialist
'The final funding decisions by (Employment and Social Development Canada) were made during the writ period,' the spokeswoman wrote, referring to the period during the spring federal election.
Article content
Her office also confirmed she had been a parishioner of the church in question since its was established in the 1980s
Article content
'It was wonderful to visit Our Lady of Lebanon Parish and see how the Canada Summer Jobs program is helping our youth gain valuable work experience while supporting meaningful summer opportunities. Thank you for welcoming me — enjoy the rest of your summer!' Metlege Diab wrote in a recent Facebook post.
Article content
The government confirmed the church received around $50,000 to fund 10 jobs.
Article content
Last year, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner's office released an advisory opinion directing MPs on when they should refrain from giving their opinion on whether a particular organization should receive funding.
Article content
Article content
It added that an entity is not precluded from applying for government money just because an elected official or appointee has a personal connection to it, like a membership.
Article content
The office advised that MPs should not provide opinions on applications from groups that employ or are owned by a family member, or where they have a 'private interest.'
Article content
Stedman says under the rules, 'private interest' is defined in terms of it being a financial interest, which is narrow.
Article content
He says that narrowness is evident when it comes to the Canada Summer Jobs program, which he said is unique in that the government asks MPs to directly weigh in on a funding decision. 'This is really them saying outright, 'We want you to help influence how our money is spent.''
Article content
While federal ethics rules concentrate on the issue of a public officer using their influence to benefit financially, the program itself is about the community.
Article content
Article content
'It's an organization she cares about. It's a church that she cares about, and the better they do, the longer they survive to be there for her and her community. And she benefits from that in a kind of interpersonal way,' Stedman said.
Article content
'It's just not the kind of benefit that's contemplated by the act, which can be unpalatable … for I think our modern take on what conflicts of interest could be.'
Article content
He said he believes the program, in asking MPs for their recommendations on funding, should also ask whether they have any personal connections to the organizations on the provided lists.
Article content
'The public expects that their members of Parliament are going to do everything they can to avoid the perception of a conflict, because we want our government officials to care about public trust in their behaviour, and public trust is about perception as much as it is about reality.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
8 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Statement by the Secretary of State (Children and Youth), The Honourable Anna Gainey on International Youth Day 2025 Français
GATINEAU, QC, Aug. 12, 2025 /CNW/ - Secretary of State (Children and Youth), Anna Gainey, today issued the following statement to mark International Youth Day: "On this International Youth Day, I want to recognize the dedication that young people in Canada have to their communities and celebrate their commitment to improving Canada and the world. That includes work and economic growth—a goal that is especially relevant to youth who are shaping their futures and eager to get a positive start to their careers. "In the face of youth employment challenges, we are fully committed to helping young Canadians get ahead by accessing meaningful jobs. We are connecting them with the employment and skill-building programs they need to successfully launch their professional careers. "Your government is advancing initiatives like Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, Canada Summer Jobs, and the  Student Work Placement Program , which are providing high-quality opportunities for youth to gain valuable experience and develop essential skills—empowering them to find and keep good jobs across diverse sectors of the economy. "We also know that when young people get a strong start, everyone benefits. That begins by ensuring they can learn and thrive during their childhood. Through investments like Canada's National School Food Program, we are making sure that children have access to nutritious meals, so they can focus, perform at their best, and build a foundation for lifelong success. "Thank you to the young Canadians who are helping shape a brighter present and future for everyone. Your energy, creativity and commitment are driving progress in communities across the country – and we're proud to support you in every step of the way. ''Happy International Youth Day!''
Ottawa Citizen
18 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Deachman: In search of Mark Carney's constituency office
John Van de Brook went online recently to search for the constituency office address of his local MP, Nepean Liberal Mark Carney. There's been a recent rat infestation in Barrhaven, and while he had already reached out to the office of his municipal councillor, Van de Brook thought he might as well cover all the bases. After all, it wasn't so many months ago that his then-MP, Chandra Arya, helped solve a problem that Van de Brook's wife was having with her permanent resident card. Who knows, he figured maybe Carney could help with this? Article content Article content Alas, Van de Brook couldn't locate Carney's office because, well, there isn't one. Article content Article content Article content 'I was disappointed,' Van de Brook said. 'He should have one.' Article content He's not the only Nepean resident with that view. 'As a senior, there aren't a lot of places where we can go to talk to someone in person,' said a woman, Elaine, who asked that her surname be withheld. 'Doing everything online is so impersonal. Article content 'Carney's here, he's acting on our behalf. He should definitely have an office here.' Another, Lyndsay, who lives a couple of blocks from Arya's former office on Kennevale Drive at Strandherd, agreed. Article content 'I have family members who needed immigration services, and this was during COVID. So we reached out to Chandra. He put a person on the file, and every month there would be a touchpoint and we would talk about what was happening. It was helpful. Article content 'But now, you might see something on Facebook telling you to contact your MP. When I see that, my first thought is that technically, we have an MP, but we have nowhere to contact an MP. And because of the role of our MP, it doesn't feel like there's someone representing our riding.' Article content Article content Meanwhile, two other newly elected MPs in the area, Prescott-Russell-Cumberland's Giovanna Mingarelli and Carleton's Bruce Fanjoy, have their local offices set up — Fanjoy's in June. More than 3 months after Nepean residents elected Carney to represent them in the House of Commons, one thing the PM hasn't gotten around to is opening a riding office. Article content Article content And if someone were to search online for Carney's riding office, they'd be pointed to Arya's now-empty quarters. Article content I get that he's the prime minister and has more important things to worry about than the passport someone in Barrhaven absentmindedly allowed to expire or the veteran's benefits paperwork another Nepeanite is having difficulty filling out. But the absence of a physical place where constituents can go and actually talk to a human about their concerns can't help but rankle the citizenry and remind many of the perils of electing a politician wearing a parachute, including the risk that he might never actually land there.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Immature prank against Sault burger joint leads to 2 incredible acts of kindness
An undated photo of the exterior of Stackburger at 71 Sprint Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. (Stackburger/Facebook) A large, unclaimed takeout order at Stackburger, a local restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., initially appeared to be a prank – but the story took a heartwarming turn thanks to the owner and an anonymous good Samaritan. On Thursday, the restaurant prepared a substantial order – including 10 Double Stackburgers, 5 Stackburgers, 5 cheeseburgers, 5 chicken sandwiches, 5 poutines, 5 to 10 orders of fries and 20 milkshakes – for a 1:30 p.m. pickup. When no one arrived, staff tried calling the provided number, only to find it out of service. Stackburger - $439.20 Order A large $439.20 takeout order prepared at Stackburger in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., on August 7, 2025, that went unclaimed. (Stackburger/Facebook) 'We learned a hard lesson today,' Stackburger posted on social media. 'Going forward, we will have to make changes for large call-in orders.' The restaurant, which regularly handles big takeout orders, had never encountered such an issue in its 10 years of operation. Despite the disappointment, owner Kevin Syrette ensured the food didn't go to waste. The burger joint donated the entire $439.20 order to Pauline's Place, a local shelter for women, youth and families experiencing homelessness. Pauline's Place The exterior of Pauline's Place, located on Wellington Street West in Sault Ste. Maire, Ont., in September 2024. (GoogleImages) An anonymous gesture towards their goodwill The story quickly spread across the Sault, thanks to Stackburger's post and a subsequent thank you message on the Pauline's Place's Facebook page. Hours after sharing the incident online, an unexpected visitor arrived at the restaurant. According to Syrette, a person who had seen the social media post asked about the unclaimed order's total. 'My cashier was like, 'No, no, it's okay,'' the owner recounted. But the individual insisted, paying the full $439.20 while requesting anonymity. Stackburger - $439.20 Receipt A good Samaritan paid Stackburger in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., for a large unclaimed food order which they donated to a local woman's shelter.(Stackburger/Facebook) 'As a small business, this amount of money is significant, so we are forever grateful,' Stackburger wrote in a follow-up post. 'We feel this act of kindness speaks volumes to our community.' Truly a story of community support The incident highlighted both the challenges small businesses face and the generosity of the community. While the original caller – who identified themselves as 'Chris' – never returned, the anonymous payment and donation to Pauline's Place turned a frustrating situation into a positive outcome for the Steel City. 'With the help of our Stackburger family, we were able to turn a negative experience into a positive,' the restaurant said. Stackburger - interior An undated photo of the interior of Stackburger in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. (Stackburger/Facebook) Pauline's Place, located on Wellington Street West, provides emergency shelter and basic necessities for those in need – making the donation a meaningful contribution. In messages to CTV News, Stackburger thanked supporters and the benefactor for their kindness – proving that even an apparent immature prank can have a happy ending.
