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She is also investigating Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s involvement in new pension legislation that could benefit the company founded by his father and in which Morneau, until recently, still owned shares.

Both issues are hot political potatoes for the government. But there’s no guarantee those reviews will be completed before Dawson leaves her post on Jan. 8 and, more troubling for Opposition parties, there’s no requirement for her successor to do so.

During an hour-long committee hearing Tuesday hastily convened after the Liberals announced Dion as their nominee on Monday, both the NDP and the Conservatives pressed Dion on what he’d do with the files if he gets the job

Dawson is the first and only ethics commissioner the House of Commons known since the position was created in 2007. Her seven-year term was up in 2014, but has been extended several times.

While the search for her replacement has been underway for months, Dion said he didn’t apply until August, as he had specific achievements he wanted to wrap up in his current position as chairman of the Immigration and Refugee Board.

He said he was interested in the new job because the office is one of the institutions that strives to protect democracy in Canada. He told the committee he interviewed for the position in mid-November for about an hour before getting the call that he’d gotten the nod.

The Opposition parties have expressed frustration with how the process has been handled, noting that the government was supposed to consult with them on a new ethics commissioner but instead handed them a letter informing them that Dion was the government’s choice.