Chuck Strahl has been told by the federal ethics commissioner that his lobbying on behalf of Enbridge does not put him in a conflict of interest. That doesn鈥檛 make the situation any more palatable.
After serving for 18 years as a Chilliwack MP and holding three cabinet portfolios, Strahl retired from politics in 2011 and opened a consulting service. In 2012, he was appointed chairman of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, which oversees the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
In December, Strahl formally registered as a lobbyist for Enbridge with the stated intent of arranging a meeting between Enbridge and Rich Coleman, sa国际传媒鈥檚 deputy premier and natural gas development minister, concerning the Northern Gateway pipeline.
A commentary by Emma Gilchrist in the sa国际传媒 last November noted that CSIS and the RCMP have been keeping eyes on environmental groups and other entities opposed to the Northern Gateway pipeline, and have shared information with Enbridge.
Strahl told the National Post鈥檚 Bruce Hutchinson that as SIRC chairman, he has no knowledge of anything to do with Enbridge, and that if anything did come up, he wouldn鈥檛 see it.
So we are to take his word on it, but we shouldn鈥檛 have to. In conflict-of-interest ethics, the premise is that public officials not only avoid conflict, they should also avoid the potential, and even the appearance, of conflict. It鈥檚 about putting public interest before private interests and maintaining confidence in public institutions.
The ethics commissioner has said Strahl has not crossed the line of conflict of interest. However, a public servant should not be attempting to see how close he or she can get to the line without crossing it, but should endeavour to keep comfortably far away from it.
Strahl told Hutchinson that he is not independently wealthy and had to keep working after leaving politics. Ordinary Canadians might not be able to work up much sympathy 鈥� for 18 years, he drew an MP鈥檚 salary (current rate is $160,000 a year) and received extra pay during three stints as a cabinet minister (an extra $77,000 these days). You鈥檇 think a person in that situation would have been able to put a little aside to augment the annual parliamentary pension (approaching $55,000), as well as the salary Strahl receives for his part-time job as SIRC chairman.
Strahl鈥檚 personal finances aside, why does Enbridge need him to arrange a meeting with Coleman? It鈥檚 not as if one needs an introduction to the other 鈥� a large oil company planning to build a pipeline across sa国际传媒 and one of the most prominent members of the sa国际传媒 cabinet are likely already aware of each other. They both have staff who know whom to phone or email. Why is the chairman of sa国际传媒鈥檚 spy watchdog committee needed as an appointments secretary?
Because in that realm where politics and business meet, it鈥檚 not what you know, but who you know. A former member of Parliament is engaged as a lobbyist not because of his or her ability to convene meetings, but for the ex-politician鈥檚 influence, connections and, occasionally, the ability to call in favours.
Arthur Porter, Strahl鈥檚 SIRC predecessor, resigned and fled the country after several indiscretions, including representing himself as an ambassador for Sierra Leone. He鈥檚 in a Panamanian prison, facing extradition to Quebec where charges of money-laundering and fraud await him.
No such allegations follow Strahl, nor should they. But the head of the committee that oversees sa国际传媒鈥檚 intelligence agency should be beyond all reproach. There should be no possibility of divided loyalties.
There should be no doubt that the interests of the country take precedence over any other factor.
