Overview
- The Conservative Party asked the federal ethics watchdog to investigate whether Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne breached rules because his partner holds a senior job at Alto, the Crown corporation building a high‑speed rail line.
- Champagne says he stepped back from Alto files through a Sept. 10, 2025 letter that set a conflict‑of‑interest filter and delegated decisions to another minister, and the ethics commissioner’s office confirmed it was copied on that letter.
- His public ethics registry entry does not show any screen for Alto, a gap critics say undermines transparency around how conflicts are handled inside government.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney defended Champagne, saying the minister followed the rules by notifying the ethics office and recusing himself from Alto matters.
- Alto says Anne‑Marie Gaudet disclosed the relationship, was hired on merit, and deals only with public servants, while Democracy Watch argues private ethics screens are secretive and unenforceable.