There will be no inquiry into allegations that northern Saskatchewan MP Rob Clarke violated ethical standards.
Newfoundland Liberal MP Scott Simms wrote to the federal ethics commissioner in December to suggest that Clarke and Winnipeg MP Rod Bruinooge, a fellow Tory, violated ethics rules in parliament.
Commissioner Mary Dawson “has completed her preliminary review and determined that an inquiry is not warranted,” Margot Booth, a spokeswoman for Dawson, said Wednesday.
Booth said she can provide no further information on the decision, nor can Dawson make any public statements relating to a preliminary review or inquiry.
Clarke, Bruinooge and Simms have all been informed of the decision, Booth said.
Simms had argued the men’s votes in favour of the Fair Elections Act make an app they developed a more attractive product for political campaigns, according to the Winnipeg Free Press.
The app, known as ProxiVote, is a tool to help political campaigns by organizing information such as which voters support which party, and where volunteers and candidates are campaigning.
The passage of the Fair Elections Act removes a federal ban on the use of mobile devices at polling stations, so theoretically campaign officials can now use ProxiVote on-site.
According to the Free Press, Bruinooge is an officer in the company behind the app, while Clarke has what he calls “a nominal interest” in the company.
Staff for Dawson had told the Free Press that a preliminary review is required as the first step when complaints are received. A formal inquiry proceeds only if evidence warrants.
Clarke could not be reached for comment. He has been MP of the Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River riding, which includes Creighton and Denare Beach, since 2008.
