Files not closed in ex-PMO aide Carson conflict case

The federal commissioner of lobbying, Karen Shepherd, continues to investigate allegations of improper lobbying by Bruce Carson, a former senior advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"I am looking at the different issues in this particular file," Shepherdconfirmed during her testimony before theHouse of Commons access to information, privacy and ethics committee Thursday.

Shepherd's was one of three inquiries requested by the prime minister's office after allegations surfaced last March that Carson had breached conflict of interest rules in lobbying for an Ottawa-based company.

The potential conflict of interest act violations were referred to the RCMP. The RCMP told the Aboriginal People Television Network Thursday that its investigation was complete and no charges would be laid, APTN reported. But the network reported Friday that a different RCMP spokesperson phoned back to correct the earlier information, saying the file was still with the Mounties' commercial crime section.

APTN has reported that despite the referral from Harper's office, the RCMP has yet to open any investigation into Carson's alleged violation of the conflict of interest act.

The ethics commissioner, who was asked by the PMO to look at Carson's conduct as a former member of Harper's senior staff, also confirmed Thursday her work on the Carson allegations is ongoing.

Carson is accused of telling H20 Pros, a water purification company, that he could use his past connections to arrange deals between the company and First Nations communities who needed water filtration equipment to improve their drinking water.

In March,an APTN investigation found that Carson's fiance, Michele McPherson, acted as an intermediary between H20 Pros and the First Nations communities, and stood to earn commission from any sales.APTN also said she worked as an escort.

The APTN investigationalleged that in 2010, Carson lobbied officials at theDepartment of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, including staff in Indian Affairs Minister John Duncan's office,topromotethe business. Carson also met with Environment Minister Peter Kent.

It's illegal for former senior staffers to lobby for five years after they leave their jobs. Carson left Harper's office in 2009 and did not register as a lobbyist.

InApril,CBC News reportedthat prior to the March allegations, the ethics commissioner had been contacted on three occasions about Carson's conduct: twice by former Harper chief of staff Guy Giorno, and once by a former deputy minister at the environment department.

Carson was convicted on two counts ofdefrauding legal clients in the early 1980s, served time and wasdisbarred as a lawyer in 1981. Three more fraud convictions from 1990 surfaced during the last election campaign.

The prime minister's office has maintained Carson's criminal record from the 1980s was disclosed prior to his joining Harper's team in 2005, and he passed security checks related to his work as a senior advisor, butit was not aware of the later convictions.