Ethics commissioner to examine Philpott use of vehicle service owned by Liberal

Ethics commissioner Mary Dawson will examine whether Health Minister Jane Philpott violated the Conflict of Interest Act in her use of a high−end car service owned by a Liberal supporter.

Dawson’s probe — set to focus on a section of the act pertaining to "preferential treatment" — comes after Conservative health critic Colin Carrie wrote to the commissioner about Philpott spending $1,700 on a single day’s car service and more than $1,900 on another day.

Philpott’s office says it has received notice from the commissioner and will fully co−operate with Dawson.

Philpott announced last Thursday she would repay the cost of these trips, totalling just over $3,700, and she apologized for incurring the expenses.

She is also reimbursing taxpayers $520 for the use of Air Canada lounges in North America and Europe.

The minister also spent $3,815 for 20 trips to Toronto Pearson International Airport — expenses still under review by her department to see if she was charged fair market value.