A senior Canadian public servant has come under scrutiny after an ethics investigation found she improperly influenced the hiring of an acquaintance at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2023. Christiane Fox, who was deputy minister at IRCC at the time, faced questioning Monday from members of Parliament about her conduct and whether she used her position to benefit private individuals.

The Ethics Commissioner, Konrad von Finckenstein, concluded last week that Fox provided preferential treatment to Björn Charles, a former gym manager known to her from university and a distant relative of her husband. Mr. Charles secured a project management role in IRCC’s access to information and privacy division after Fox intervened by expediting meetings with departmental officials, seeking updates on his hiring, sharing internal information, and pushing for a higher job level than his qualifications warranted.

During an appearance before the House of Commons public accounts committee, Fox was questioned by opposition MPs on whether she would refrain from using her public office to advance private interests. She assured the committee she remains committed to public service and would continue to take her responsibilities seriously. However, some members expressed concern over what they perceived as a reluctance to acknowledge wrongdoing.

Fox defended her involvement by stating that she was attempting to improve the underperforming access to information unit at IRCC and had been asked to forward résumés for consideration. She acknowledged the need for reflection on her actions and said she was taking the ethics findings seriously.

The report detailed that IRCC staff had reservations about Mr. Charles’s suitability for a senior role, citing his lack of French language proficiency and government experience. They felt pressured to hire him above his qualifications. Fox told investigators she sought to avoid defaulting to an entry-level appointment, citing concerns about systemic racism potentially undervaluing experience among racialized candidates.

Following his initial hiring at IRCC on a casual basis, Mr. Charles was offered a one-year contract but was informed in mid-2024 that his position would not be renewed. Shortly afterward, after Fox had moved to the Privy Council Office (PCO) as deputy clerk and associate secretary to the cabinet, Mr. Charles contacted her about employment opportunities there. Fox facilitated his introduction to a senior human resources official at the PCO. This led to a meeting with the assistant deputy minister (ADM) of the access to information division and, subsequently, to a verbal job offer in September 2024 for an access to information analyst position with top-secret clearance. It is unclear whether Mr. Charles remains employed in that role.

Fox’s career trajectory has included recent appointments as deputy clerk of the Privy Council and deputy minister of National Defence. While serving as IRCC deputy minister, she participated in a federal task force focused on public service ethics that highlighted concerns about lack of accountability among senior leaders and recommended clear consequences for code of conduct violations.

The Privy Council Office has not publicly commented on whether Fox will face any disciplinary action related to the findings. The case raises broader questions about ethics and hiring practices at senior levels in the Canadian public service.