Ottawa is home to one of the largest concentrations of federal public servants in the world, and many of them have passions, projects, and creative pursuits outside of their nine-to-five in the capital. But a question that comes up more often than you'd think is: can a public servant actually promote and profit from a side hustle — say, writing a book — without running afoul of conflict of interest rules?
The short answer: yes, in many cases — but it depends on the details.
The Conflict of Interest Act and You
Federal public servants in Ottawa and across Canada are governed by the Conflict of Interest Act and their department's own code of conduct. The rules are designed to ensure that employees don't use their position, insider knowledge, or government time and resources to benefit themselves or others privately.
For something like writing and promoting a book, the key questions are:
- Does the subject matter of the book relate to your official duties?
- Are you using government time, equipment, or information to write or promote it?
- Could a reasonable person perceive a conflict between your book and your role?
If the answers are no, you're likely in the clear — but you should still disclose.
Disclosure Is Your Best Friend
The Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner strongly encourages — and in many cases requires — public servants to disclose outside activities, even those that seem clearly personal. This isn't about catching people out; it's about creating a paper trail that protects you if questions arise later.
For something like a book launch or a side business, most departments will ask you to submit a disclosure form. A designated official reviews it and either approves the activity, asks for modifications, or flags a genuine conflict. In the vast majority of cases involving creative work unrelated to the employee's portfolio, approval is granted.
What About Using Your Government Profile?
Here's where things get trickier. If you're a senior official or a public-facing employee, promoting your book in a way that leverages your government title or reputation could raise eyebrows. The rules are clear that employees can't use their official position to advance personal interests.
That means if you're a policy director at Health Canada, writing a thriller novel on your own time is almost certainly fine. But writing a book about federal health policy and marketing yourself as a Health Canada insider? That's a conversation you need to have with your ethics office first.
Side Hustles Beyond Books
The same framework applies to other common side hustles: freelance consulting, teaching, running an Etsy shop, or monetizing a social media account. The test is always the same — does it create a real or perceived conflict with your duties?
Ottawa's public service community is large and increasingly entrepreneurial. The rules aren't meant to shut down creativity or ambition; they're meant to keep the public's trust intact. With proper disclosure and a bit of common sense, most side projects pass muster.
If you're unsure, your department's values and ethics advisor is your first call — and most will tell you they'd rather hear from you early than deal with a problem later.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
