National

Canada's first conflict of interest and ethic commissioner, Mary Dawson, dies

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Jan, 2024 11:20 AM

Former conflict of interest and ethics commissioner Mary Dawson has died.

The commissioner's office posted a statement on its website today announcing it is saddened to learn of Dawson's death on Dec.24.

Dawson was nominated to the role in 2007 by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper and she served until 2018.

Before that she had a lengthy career as a federal bureaucrat, including as the associate deputy minister of the Justice Department.

During her tenure at that department she helped draft major pieces of legislation including the Access to Information Act, the Privacy Act, the Canada Health Act and the Official Languages Act.

During her time as ethics commissioner Dawson made many rulings, but among her last was her explosive report that found Prime Minister Justin Trudeau violated conflict of interest rules by accepting a vacation on the Aga Khan's private island in the Bahamas in 2016.

The statement from the ethics commissioner's office says Dawson's legal expertise "laid the foundations for the way the conflict of interest regimes are administered."

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Wildfire risk remains well above average across Canada this month

An area of land 11 times bigger than the city of Toronto burned from wildfires in the last four days — Canada's worst spring wildfire season to date. Another 389 fires were recorded since June 1, and as of Monday morning there were 413 active fires underway, with the risk having spread to more provinces over the weekend.

Wildfire risk remains well above average across Canada this month

B.C.'s Eby says Asia trade mission aims to reduce risks amid international unease

The premier and his delegation have not visited China, B.C.’s second largest trade partner, during the two−week trip but instead focused on Japan, South Korea and Singapore and have met, so far, with a range of businesses including a large Japanese rental housing company looking to break into the Canadian market.

B.C.'s Eby says Asia trade mission aims to reduce risks amid international unease

Man drowns in North Vancouver lake

Firefighters say they were called to the lake around 3:30 p-m and though bystanders and emergency responders performed C-P-R on the man, he did not survive. North Vancouver Assistant Fire Chief Dwayne Derban says the lake is mostly for fishing and not for swimming.

Man drowns in North Vancouver lake

Trudeau raises Poland's democratic backsliding as prime minister visits Toronto

The visit comes amid unprecedented economic and military collaboration between the two countries. On Monday, the U.S. State Department expressed concern over a new law "that could be misused to interfere with Poland's free and fair elections."

Trudeau raises Poland's democratic backsliding as prime minister visits Toronto

Feds open to cutting plastic production but global agreement will be hard: Guilbeault

At the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, 175 nations agreed to launch talks to create a global plastics treaty to eliminate plastic waste by the end of 2024. There are three more rounds of talks guaranteed before then, and Guilbeault said Canada is going to host the next round about a year from now.

Feds open to cutting plastic production but global agreement will be hard: Guilbeault

Gurpartap Singh Walia and his son charged with sexual exploitation, assault of teenage girls in Calgary

Sumrit Walia, 24, faces about 20 charges — including sexual interference with a minor, sexual exploitation as well as possessing, accessing and creating child pornography. His 56-year-old father, Gurpartap Singh Walia, is also charged with sexual assault, sexual interference with a minor and selling contraband tobacco.