The Province’s conflict of interest commissioner says former premier Shawn Graham broke provincial rules because of his involvement in his government’s decision to give financial help to a construction company.
Patrick Ryan has released his report into allegations that Graham was in a conflict of interest in 2009 when his Liberal government gave a $50 million loan guarantee to Miramichi-based Atcon.
Ryan says Graham should have removed himself from cabinet discussions over the loan guarantee because his father was a director of Vanerply, a Swedish subsidiary of Atcon, and a paid consultant of Vanerply and other Atcon companies.
Ryan says while Graham didn’t check whether his father had ties to Atcon at the time the loan guarantee was offered, it was his responsibility to know.
Despite the loan guarantee, Atcon went bankrupt in 2010. Ryan is recommending Graham be fined $3,500 and reprimanded.
Graham issued a statement saying the fault was an oversight’ on his part and he accepts full responsibility for his actions.
