HALIFAX, N.S. – Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister Sterling Belliveau says he has followed all guidelines set out by the province’s conflict of interest commissioner regarding the sale of his fishing assets.
Belliveau is reacting to a call from the Opposition Liberals for Merlin Nunn to take a fresh look at his directorship of Mussel’s Seafarms Ltd.
Liberal member Leo Glavine has submitted an affidavit and letter to Nunn asking him to re-examine whether Belliveau was in contravention of the ministerial code of conduct.
Belliveau maintains, as he did last fall when the issue was first raised in the legislature, that he took all steps necessary to avoid any appearance of a conflict in the sale of his boat gear and fishing licence through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board, an arms-length body he oversees.
He says those steps included submitting the paperwork to have himself removed as director of Mussel’s Seafarms, a process which wrapped up last month.
A Liberal spokesman says they’ve received no word yet from the conflict of interest commissioner about their request.
At issue
Last fall the opposition parties pressed for proof that Belliveau, a 38-year veteran of the fishery, played no part in a loan that helped finance the sale of his boat gear and fishing licence. Belliveau and the governing New Democrats maintained he took all steps necessary to distance himself from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board, the arms-length body he oversees.
