Nathan Abdelnour

Conflict of interest screens are preventive compliance measures, agreed upon pursuant to section 29 of the Conflict of Interest Act (Act) by public office holders and the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, to assist them in avoiding conflicts of interest. Screens also seek to minimize the possibility of conflicts arising between the public duties of the public office holder and their private interests or those of their relatives and friends.
The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and I have agreed that a conflict of interest screen is an appropriate compliance measure for me, aimed at preventing any opportunity to further the private interests of my friends, Paul Hunter, employed by Wheelchair Rugby Canada, as well as Deanna Cowan and Dustin Hopkins employed by Rugby Canada or to give preferential treatment to Wheelchair Rugby Canada and Rugby Canada, while I exercise my official powers, duties and functions as a public office holder.
Accordingly, I have agreed to recuse myself from any discussion or decision in relation to my friends and their employers. I understand that recusal means that I must remove myself from the room, physically or virtually as the case may be. I also agree not to have any communication with government officials in relation to any matter or decision-making processes which I or the screen administrators know or reasonably should know to affect my friends’ private interests.
This screen is administered by my Chief of Staff to ensure that I am neither made aware of nor participate in any official matters or decision-making processes involving friends’ private interests, unless the interest relates to a decision or matter that is of general application. I will participate in decisions or matters of general application and those that may affect friends’ private interests as a member of a broad class of persons unless those interests are disproportionate to the other members of the class.
My Secretary of State, colleagues and necessary public servants have been informed in writing about this conflict of interest screen.
I have undertaken to inform the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner at the earliest opportunity of all changes of which I become aware that relate to or should form part of the above list of matters caught by this screen.
In the event that I am made aware of a matter forming part of this screen or any such matter comes before me, I am required under section 21 of the Act to recuse myself from that matter, by leaving the room or the virtual meeting where the discussion and decision making is taking place.
I must so inform the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and, where appropriate, make a public declaration of recusal pursuant to subsection 25(1) of the Act.