The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, June 12, edition that Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said he can participate in votes and debates regarding the federal high-speed rail project despite being under a conflict-of-interest screen. The Globe's Bill Curry writes that Mr. Champagne informed the House of Commons ethics committee that the Conflict of Interest Act permits involvement in matters of "general application" even with a screen in place. At issue is Mr. Champagne's connection with Anne-Marie Gaudet, a vice-president at Alto, the Crown corporation leading the rail project. Mr. Champagne said the conflict-of-interest screen was added out of an abundance of caution. Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett requested a probe from federal Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein in April regarding the minister's potential conflict of interest. Mr. Barrett's letter points out that Ms. Gaudet has been described in news reports as the minister's spouse. On Thursday, Mr. Champagne referred to Ms. Gaudet as a person who is close to him. In his first public comments on the matter, Mr. von Finckenstein said he "absolutely" agrees with the minister's interpretation of the act's general application rule.