Complaint
An individual filed a complaint with our office alleging that the Authority had not taken appropriate steps to mitigate an employee’s potential conflict of interest. The complainant was concerned that this employee would be responsible for making decisions about a matter the employee was personally involved in - that the employee may have access to information that was not available to the public, and that they may influence their co-workers in the decision-making process.
Investigation
During our investigation, we considered what steps the Authority had taken or would take with respect to the potential conflict.
The Government of Yukon has a conflict of interest policy but does not provide specifics on how to address a conflict. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the department or program area to determine what is appropriate in the circumstances, on a case-by-case basis.
In assessing whether the potential conflict had been effectively mitigated, we considered whether access to non-public information was restricted, and what steps were taken to ensure that the matter was not discussed between the employee and their colleagues. We also considered who would be making the final decision on the matter, and whether the Authority had delegated the decision-making to someone impartial.
Decision
Unsubstantiated. Our investigation found that the Authority had given appropriate consideration on how to best manage the conflict and acted accordingly.
Recommendations
Not applicable. Without revealing the employee’s personal information, we conveyed to the complainant that we felt the Authority had taken reasonable steps to address the potential conflict. This resolved the matter.