Editor’s note: The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Mary Dawson, issued a notice warning MPs against accepting tickets to Falun Gong’s Shen Yun show. She said they could violate federal conflict of interest rules if they accept free tickets to the show. The notice is as follows:

Acceptability of Tickets Offered by the Falun Dafa Association of Canada

ADVISORY OPINION
Issued under Members' Code ss. 26(4)
December 2, 2011

I am aware that some Members of the House of Commons have been, or may be, offered free tickets to upcoming performances of the Shen Yun Performing Arts company at the National Arts Centre. The tickets are being offered by the Falun Dafa Association of Canada, which has been seeking Members' support.

The Shen Yun ticket offers are subject to the gift provisions of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. In particular, they must be evaluated in light of the acceptability test set out in subsection 14(1):

14.(1) Neither a Member nor any member of a Member's family shall accept, directly or indirectly, any gift or other benefit, except compensation authorized by law, that might reasonably be seen to have beengiven to influence the Member in the exercise of a duty or function of his or her office.

Because the Falun Dafa Association of Canada is seeking support for its cause, these free tickets could reasonably be seen to have been given to influence Members in the exercise of a duty or function of their office. Therefore, they are not acceptable under the Members' Code. Members who have already accepted the free tickets must either give them back or reimburse their cost.

While Members are certainly free to meet with and support the Association, they cannot accept free tickets or any other gifts or benefits that the Association or its representatives might offer them.

I take this opportunity to remind Members that the $500 threshold set out in subsection 14(3) of the Members' Code is not a criterion of acceptability. Gifts accepted with a value of $500 or more require a public declaration, but this in no way implies that gifts of a lesser value are acceptable.

I invite Members who have questions about these or any other offers to contact my Office by telephone at 613-995-0721 or by e-mail at http://ciec-ccie.parl.gc.ca/. 

 

 Mary Dawson
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

 

 

Original text from: http://ciec-ccie.gc.ca/Default.aspx?pid=127&lang=en