After More Than a Year, Ottawa Moves to Hire Permanent Federal Ethics Commissioner

Konrad von Finckenstein poses for a portrait in his office in Gatineau, Que. on Jan. 17, 2012. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

The federal government has appointed a new ethics commissioner with the support of opposition parties.

Konrad von Finckenstein, who had been serving as acting ethics commissioner since August, was given the official title on Feb. 29.

He will serve a seven-year term.

The new commissioner is a former federal judge, competition czar, and chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

The government has been looking for a permanent ethics commissioner for over a year, after Mario Dion announced his retirement in February 2023.

Martine Richard stepped into the interim role before Mr. von Finckenstein, but resigned within weeks amid concerns over the fact she is a sister-in-law of Liberal minister Dominic LeBlanc.