Deputy minister broke rules by hiring unqualified acquaintance: ethics watchdog

surrogate government minister of subject defence Christiane charles james fox stone-broke conflict of interest rules by hiring an old acquaintance when she was the deputy immigration minister, the federal ethics watchdog has found.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein published an investigation on Wednesday finding that Fox improperly influenced her department to hire Björn Charles in March 2023.

Fox sent Charles's resumé to her assistant deputy minister, suggesting him as a candidate for a project manager position in the department's access to information division. Fox had known Charles since they were both athletes at university together.

The report said that officials "felt pressured to hire him" at "a management level for which departmental officials had advised he was not qualified."

The commissioner noted that Charles had no experience in government or with access to information and privacy (ATIP) requests.

"Ms. Fox used her position as deputy minister to give Mr. Charles preferential treatment, by ensuring he met with departmental officials quickly, seeking updates about his hiring, giving him internal information and pushing for a higher job classification," Finckenstein wrote, finding a breach of the Conflict of Interest Act. 

After an initial three-month term, Charles was given a non-advertised one year contract in August 2023, the report says.

The commissioner did not find credible Fox's explanation that hiring Charles was motivated by the needs of the ATIP division and anti-racism, equity and inclusion policies. 

"Clearly, the true intent behind her interventions was to help Mr. Charles find new employment, and this occurred under her watch through the creation of a position in her department to fit Mr. Charles's needs," the commissioner wrote.

While the commissioner can impose monetary penalties and issue compliance orders, the investigation did not recommend sanctions. 

"This report reminds appointed federal officials at all levels to keep the Conflict of Interest Act in mind whenever there's a possibility of influencing a decision," von Finckenstein said in a statement accompanying the report.

"They're not allowed to use their position to try to influence a decision to further their private interests or those of their relatives or friends, or to improperly further another person's private interests."

The report says that by June 2024, Charles had been told that his contract would not be extended due to his ongoing performance issues.

It says he then contacted Fox seeking her help finding another job. She told him to send his resumé to her assistant.

In December, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Fox's appointment to the top civilian role at the Department of National Defence as part of a shakeup in the senior ranks of the public service.

She had been serving as the deputy clerk of the Privy Council, where she announced assuming "a leadership role in facilitating our dialogue on values and ethics."

The Department of National Defence referred a request to comment to the Privy Council Office, which did not immediately respond. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has also not yet returned a request for comment.

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