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.
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