Prime Minister Mark Carney and other Canadian prime ministers should be required to divest their investment portfolios when they assume office, not just put them in a blind trust, the House of Commons ethics committee recommends in a new report.
In its report made public Thursday morning, the committee said putting assets in a blind trust isn’t good enough, recommending instead “that the Government of Canada amend the Conflict of Interest Act that, for the application of subsection 27(1) the prime minister, as a reporting public office holder, is fully divested from their controlled assets through sale, since placement in a blind trust does not constitute true divestment.”
The committee also wants the law amended to require public disclosure of “high-level holdings categories placed in a blind trust by reporting public office holders (sector/asset class, and whether the holdings are Canadian-market concentrated),” a recommendation that could shed new light on the financial interests of a number of top officials and cabinet ministers.
Exactly. If their money is more important than Canadian interests I’d rather them not be PM. (or even a politician)
Perfect so you’re team Poilievre, a political lifer who has done nothing else and has nothing to show for it over someone like Carney who became successful before entering politics?
I’m no fan of wealthy people making themselves richer on the public dime, but I also think that setting up barriers to entry for people who have achieved success in other areas is a losing proposition in the long term.
Of course we should have measures in place to prevent people from using their offices to enrich themselves, but to call for people to divest their portfolios as a pre-requisite could repel candidates whose experience and know-how in financial and economic matters might be of great benefit to us all.
Liquidating portfolios is no joke, 50% capital gains inclusion to income tax when triggering a distribution is more than enough to cause someone to reconsider running for office.
You seem like an ass.
I want a government where people are only in it to make Canada a better place. I have no problem with them getting paid enough to support their families, but there is no reason they should ever need to profit beyond that from their position. If they are in it for the money or fame they have no business in politics.
We don’t need the turd sandwich or shit burrito choice. Poilievre promoted CDN government investing in crypto when he was a holding crypto.