The office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner said Thursday that it’s not at odds with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over how many cabinet ministers hold controlled assets indirectly — that it was correct in stating there are fewer than five because, technically, there could be just one minister in that category.

Mary Dawson’s office released the puzzling statement Thursday afternoon after the Globe and Mail reported that the commissioner and Trudeau disagree about the number of ministers holding controlled assets indirectly.

A senior government official told the Globe that Dawson’s office is wrong and Finance Minister Bill Morneau is the only minister in the current government who has held assets indirectly.

The story apparently irked Dawson.

“The Globe and Mail reported this morning that the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is at odds with the Prime Minister over how many cabinet ministers currently hold controlled assets indirectly. This is, in fact, not the case,” Dawson’s office said in a statement.

“The Office did not wish to give an exact number when asked how many cabinet ministers indirectly hold controlled assets. The Office indicated fewer than five, giving a general sense of an upper limit to the number, meaning it could be one, two, three or four.”

Trudeau has been facing a lot of criticism from opponents over Morneau — and Dawson’s comments about additional ministers has offered both opposition parties more ammunition.

Last week, the Tories and NDP demanded to know who else — besides Morneau — is holding assets indirectly. Trudeau refused to name any additional ministers.

Interestingly, Dawson’s office told iPolitics in an email that “fewer than five” cabinet ministers in the previous Conservative government also held controlled assets indirectly.