Canada is a country in which accomplishments are a liability in serving the public good.  

By definition, the best and brightest will have conflicts when they reach their 50s and 60s.  Disclosing and managing these conflicts is the issue, not eliminating them.

I remember when Gwen Morgan was drummed out of public service by people who claimed they had no conflicts too.  In addition to no conflicts, they had no accomplishments too.

Canada is a place where success is vilified, not celebrated. 

It is also a place where scant few choose public service of any kind.

Look at poor Patrick Brown, unfit for middle management, but nevertheless the top dog in the Ontario Tories.