HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s conflict of interest commissioner has cleared Economic Development Minister Michel Samson of any wrongdoing for comments he made to the media about funding for the Yarmouth ferry.
Progressive Conservative Chris d’Entremont asked Merlin Nunn to look into the matter last month after Samson did not disclose funding information to the media about the ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine.
D’Entremont alleged Samson was not truthful when he told reporters the government had not given Nova Star Cruises more than the 26 million dollars in public funds.
Samson eventually disclosed that he had known about 2.5 million dollars in additional funding since December 23rd.
In his five-page ruling, Nunn says the implication that Samson should have revealed to the media that the additional money was given does not have merit because it was up to the minister to decide when to make it public.
Nunn says Samson didn’t lie to the media and told them all they were entitled to know at the time.
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