Morneau's decision not to use a blind trust is quite telling. Properly structured, the transfer of assets to a blind trust are tax deferred (i.e. no tax is due relating to accrued gains on the contribution of assets to the trust). There are a number of tax disadvantages with a blind trust in the event of death while the assets are held in the trust. Bill wished to avoid both those taxes as well as any tax on the disposition of assets to the trust that would have arisen if anyone other than himself became a beneficiary of the trust. So the essence of Bill's dilemma is does a good upstanding rich Liberal pay taxes now on accrued gains or otherwise manage the conflict of interest rules. Choosing not to pay the tax was his easy decision, it was Liberalesque. Not wanting to have future impediments on his ownership of assets meant he would not set up a blind trust. Instead, he chose to hold them directly and uses " other unidentified screens" to protect against conflict of interest. Uh huh.