Ethics Commissioner on Difficulty of Filling Job: ‘Could Be the Political Nature’

Konrad W. von Finckenstein waits prior to his appearance before a House of Commons science and technology committee on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 3, 2011. Pawel Dwulit/The Canadian Press

Interim Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein isn’t sure why his post is so difficult to fill and he won’t commit beyond his agreed tenure.

“I would be willing to do it for six months. There haven’t been discussions beyond six months,” Mr. von Finckenstein said on Sept. 18, in response to a question from Bloc Québécois MP René Villemure. The new commissioner was testifying before the House of Commons ethics committee.