Ethics watchdog: Philpott car claims didn’t break spending rules

OTTAWA — Health Minister Jane Philpott has been cleared of any ethics breach over her use of a driving service owned by one of her campaign volunteers.
Federal ethics commissioner Mary Dawson says in a report released Wednesday that she found no evidence to suggest Philpott used the Toronto-area service because the owner was a Liberal party member, a friend, or due to his involvement in her election campaign.
Dawson also says the company’s rates were not significantly different from those charged by other driving services.
The ethics watchdog’s report into whether the minister violated the Conflict of Interest Act by hiring the company says the reason Philpott used the service was simply because it was the only car service the minister could recall at that time.
Philpott came under fire over the summer over revelations that she spent $1,700 dollars on one day for car service and more than $1,900 on another day.
Amid the uproar, Philpott announced in mid-August that she would repay the cost of these trips, totalling just more than $3,700, while admitting these were “excessive costs” related to her work travel.
In her statement to Dawson, Philpott said she didn’t get heavily involved in making travel arrangements and left much of the planning to her staff.
Philpott told Dawson that she used the car service after the election and continued to use it because the company’s owner provided good, reliable service, “and he was discreet and not talkative.”
Dawson’s report says Philpott said that she felt safe and secure in the vehicle.
In a statement, Philpott said she is pleased that the matter is now concluded.

Comments

comments