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Carney’s Aide Defends Ethics Screen as ‘Highest Standard’ as Sabia Reports Six Recusals, Four Ongoing

The chief of staff said Carney is kept out of screened matters, with his office refusing meetings tied to companies on the recusal list.

Michael Sabia, Clerk of the Privy Council, leaves the Liberal cabinet retreat, in Toronto on Thursday, September 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Michael Sabia, Clerk of the Privy Council, says he errs on the side of caution when it comes to applying the prime minister's ethics screen.

Overview

  • Marc-André Blanchard told MPs the system keeps the prime minister unaware when screens are applied and blocks outreach from any entity on the ethics list.
  • Privy Council Clerk Michael Sabia testified the screen is imposed the moment a potential issue is flagged, reflecting a deliberately low threshold.
  • Sabia said 13 matters have been flagged, with six screens applied and four still active, and he pledged to share details on the non‑continuing cases with the committee.
  • Two of the matters involved tax measures, while Carney’s broader obligations require recusals on issues tied to more than 100 entities, including Brookfield and Stripe.
  • Conservatives pressed for full divestment rather than a blind trust, as Sabia defended the current framework and noted he sold his own Brookfield shares to simplify administration.