Recusal—stepping away from a discussion, decision, debate or vote—is the best way to address or manage a conflict of interest. It means having nothing to do with the matter.
A recusal is different from an abstention. It is more than simply staying silent during a discussion or not voting, because your mere presence could influence another participant. You must leave the room (physical or virtual) and refrain from having any further involvement in the matter.
Under the Conflict of Interest Act, you must recuse yourself from all discussions or decision-making on any matter when there is an opportunity to:
- further your private interests
- further the private interests of your relatives or friends
- improperly further the private interests of anyone else
It doesn’t matter if those private interests would actually be furthered.
If you recuse yourself to avoid a conflict of interest, you must tell the Commissioner’s Office about the recusal as soon as possible. Except in limited circumstances, you must also publicly declare it within 60 days. Your public declaration must identify the conflict of interest that you avoided. The Commissioner’s Office will post it in the public registry.
Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand these rules. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can also help. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email.
Conflict of interest screens help prevent situations where the Conflict of Interest Act would require you to recuse yourself (step away) from a discussion, decision, debate or vote.
They are formal plans that the Commissioner’s Office can help you set up ahead of time to avoid handling files that could put you in a conflict of interest.
If a screen is in place and is functioning correctly, files that might pose a conflict are not shown to you, so you do not need to recuse.