MP Shelly Glover cleared of fundraising conflict-of-interest allegations

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This article was published 19/11/2014 (3438 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA – Manitoba senior minister Shelly Glover was cleared today of allegations she violated the Conflict of Interest Act because invitees to a political fundraiser for her Saint Boniface riding association included people in the arts community.

Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson said Glover wasn’t at fault is because it appeared she was not personally responsible for soliciting donations, nor did she request someone do so.

However, Dawson did find that the fundraiser was not acceptable.

“Although she did not contravene the Act, I believe it is inappropriate for stakeholders of Mrs. Glover’s department to be invited to make donations in order to attend a fundraiser at which the minister was also present,” Commissioner Dawson said.

“I have recommended in my report that the Act be amended to include a contravention in the case of a minister, minister of state or parliamentary secretary who knew or should have known that funds were being solicited by others in circumstances that would place them in a conflict of interest and failed to take appropriate action.”

Glover told the Free Press she is happy the investigation cleared her and hopes those who accused her of wrongdoing will apologize.

She said she intervened as soon as she found out what was happening. “What they were thinking is beyond me,” she said.

Glover said she can’t comment on Dawson’s recommendation for expanding the act as she hasn’t yet read the whole report.

It was alleged Glover, who is the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, violated the section of the act barring public office holders from personally soliciting funds from people or organizations that would put them in a conflict of interest.

The fundraiser was hosted in January by former Conservative candidate Ken Cooper, who is a member of the Winnipeg Art Gallery Foundation board. The invitation to the fundraiser indicated guests would primarily be from the Winnipeg cultural community and that they would have a chance to meet Glover and offer their views. Cooper’s invitation also suggested guests should donate $50 to the Saint Boniface riding association.

Glover said she had no knowledge the fundraiser targeted members of the arts community nor that they would be asked to donate. After she was approached by media at the fundraiser and asked about the potential conflict, Glover instructed the donations be returned and told her association not to hold such events again.

One of the invitees to the event was Brian Bowman. Bowman, recently elected as the mayor of Winnipeg, was the chair of the Winnipeg Art Gallery board at the time. He said he could not attend the event but would not have done so even if his schedule had allowed, because it made him uncomfortable to mix partisan politics with his non-partisan role on the board.