Carney does not need to divest assets to avoid conflict of interest, ethics watchdog says

Prime Minister Mark Carney placed his assets in a blind trust, meaning he no longer has control or knowledge of how they are managed.

Ottawa’s ethics watchdog has advised MPs against making ministers – including Prime Minister Mark Carney – sell assets placed in a blind trust to avoid conflicts of interest, saying it would put people in the private sector off public office.

Questioned by Conservative MPs about the Prime Minister’s blind trust, and the efficacy of conflict of interest screens, Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein said forcing public office holders to sell their assets and have the money reinvested would lead to them incurring a big annual tax bill.

Giving evidence before MPs for the first time since Mr. Carney placed his assets in a blind trust, the Ethics Commi