Dominic LeBlanc

Conflict of interest screens are preventive compliance measures, agreed upon pursuant to section 29 of the Conflict of Interest Act (Act) by a public office holder and the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, to assist public office holders 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 friend, Mr. James D. Irving, President and Chief Executive Officer of J.D. Irving Limited, including J.D. Irving Limited its subsidiaries, affiliates, associates, divisions and or any legal form of business, (collectively, Mr. Irving’s business interests) or to give preferential treatment to any of them, while I exercise my official powers, duties and functions as a reporting public office holder.

Accordingly, I have agreed to recuse myself from any discussion or decision in relation to my friend’s private interests including his business interests. I also agree not to have any communication with government officials in relation to any matter or decision-making processes which I or my administrator know or reasonably should know to affect Mr. Irving’s interests.

This screen is administered by my Chief of Staff and by the Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, to ensure that I am neither made aware of nor participate in any official matters or decision-making processes involving Mr. Irving’s interests. I will participate in decisions or matters of general application and those that may affect Mr. Irving’s interests as a member of a broad class of persons unless those interests are disproportionate to the other members of the class.

Moreover, all powers, duties and functions on matters that form part of this screen will be exercised by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

The Prime Minister of Canada, the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Governance), the Deputy Minister of International Trade, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to the United States of America, the Chief Trade Negotiator for Canada, the Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade Policy and Negotiations, the Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy (Canada-U.S. Trade), the Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy (Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy), the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, my ministerial staff members and other necessary ministerial staff and 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 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. 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.

This report presents the findings of my examination under the Conflict of Interest Act of the conduct of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, when he was Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, in relation to his decision to pursue issuing an Arctic surf clam licence to the Five Nations Clam Company.

Gift (Code)

Nature of gifts or benefits received:

3 days hospitality at Ledges Lodge, Doarktown, N.B.

Source:

Jacques Pinet, Vice-President, Assumption Life Insurance Co. located in Moncton, N.B.

Circumstances under which received:

Annual trip with local business leaders and other elected officials.

Gift (Code) Received 2018/07/17

Nature

Overnight stay and meals at Larry's Gulch Lodge in Kedgwick, New Brunswick

Source

Government of New Brunswick

Circumstances

Meetings with business leaders regarding New Brunswick economic development

Gift (Act)

Nature

One ticket to attend "An evening with the Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien" on June 6, 2023 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario

Source

The Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy

Circumstances

Invited as a speaker to honor the 60th anniversary of political involvement of the Right Honorable Jean Chrétien

Sole owner of Dominic LeBlanc Professional Corporation

Line of credit with BMO

In order to avoid any opportunity to provide preferential treatment or to further the private interests of my relative, Ms. Marie-Claude Bélanger-Richard, I recused myself on November 6, 2018 from all discussions, decisions, debates or votes relating to potential judicial appointments.

On December 14, 2020, I recused myself from discussions and decisions concerning the appointment of Mr. Stephen Kukucha to be a director of the Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology in order to avoid any opportunity to further the private interest of my friend.

In the exercise of my official duties, I recused myself from any discussion or decision regarding the appointment of Robert Dysart as Judge of the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick, in order to avoid an opportunity to further the private interest of my friend.

In order to avoid any opportunity to provide preferential treatment or to further the private interests of my relative, Ms. Martine Richard, I recused myself on March 28, 2023, from all discussions, decisions, debates or votes relating to her appointment as Interim Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.

In the exercise of my official duties as Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs, I recused myself on March 7, 2025, as agreed in my conflict of interest screen, from responding or taking any action in relation to a communication regarding the announcement that Davie Shipyard will build the polar icebreaker from Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy, in order to avoid any conflict of interest between my official functions and the private interest of my friend, James Irving.

In the exercise of my official duties, I recused myself from any discussion or decision regarding the appointment of Christopher MacInnes as a director of the Halifax Port Authority, in order to avoid an opportunity to further the private interest of my friend.

I recused myself from responding or taking any action in relation to a letter dated June 28, 2016 from the Collaboration for Atlantic Salmon Tomorrow (CAST) that was caught by the conflict of interest screen implemented within my office to ensure my compliance with the Act. The letter and any other communication, discussion and/or decision related to this matter will be delegated to the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. I did so in order to avoid the opportunity to give preferential treatment to CAST and/or improperly further their interest.

On March 27, 2023, in the exercise of my official duties as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, I recused myself from participating in all discussions, decision and signature of an OIC walk-around, a process where a memo is signed by enough members of Cabinet to constitute a decision of Cabinet, regarding the appointment of my relative, Ms. Martine Richard, as Interim Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.

On May 27, 2024, I recused myself from discussions and decisions concerning the appointment of Mr. Victor Boudreau as an independent senator to fill a vacancy in the Senate for New Brunswick, in order to avoid any opportunity to further the private interest of my friend.

Name of Member

Dominic LeBlanc

Name of any person accompanying the Member (if any)

Jolène Richard

Destination(s)

Taiwan

Purpose of the trip

Meet taiwanese legislators, Deputy Ministers and business leaders

Sponsor of trip (official name)

Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association

Travel dates

2014/01/18 to 2014/01/23 (5 days)

Member of partnership Trio des dunes, a local music trio which offers charitable concerts in nursing homes.

Member of the board of The Greater Moncton Music Festival Inc., a registered charity in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Nominal interest in Soeur Claudette Cocktail Bar, Moncton, New Brunswick

Mortgage with UNI Financial Cooperation

Obligation to provide a confidential report has been met and all initial reporting and compliance measures have been taken to comply with the Conflict of Interest Act.

Travel on a non-commercial chartered or private aircraft

Departing flight

From: Moncton, New Brunswick

To: Montreal, Quebec

Date: 2020-03-31

Return flight

From: Montreal, Quebec

To: Moncton, New Brunswick

Date: 2020-03-31

Source: J.D. Irving Ltd.

Circumstances: Personal travel pre-approved by the Commissioner for a medical consultation, as per advice from treating doctor.

Travel on a non-commercial chartered or private aircraft

Departing flight

From: Moncton, New Brunswick

To: Montreal, Quebec

Return flight

From: Montreal, Quebec

To: Moncton, New Brunswick

Date: 2019-06-13

Source: J.D. Irving Ltd.

Circumstances: Personal travel pre-approved by the Commissioner for a medical consultation, as per advice from treating doctor. I was accompanied by my spouse.

Travel on a non-commercial chartered or private aircraft

Departing flight

From: Moncton, New Brunswick

To: Montreal, Quebec

Date: 2019-07-15

Return flight

From: Montreal, Quebec

To: Moncton, New Brunswick

Date: 2019-07-17

Source: J.D. Irving Ltd.

Circumstances: Personal travel pre-approved by the Commissioner for a medical consultation, as per advice from treating doctor. I was accompanied by my spouse.

I-328 Main street Shediac, New Brunswick E4P 2E3

dominic.leblanc@parl.gc.ca

http://dominicleblanc.libparl.ca/

506-533-5700

506-533-5888