The appointment of an interim ethics commissioner who is also the sister-in-law of a cabinet minister has opposition parties crying foul.

It was announced earlier this week that Martine Richard had been appointed to the role for a period of six months after the previous commissioner, Mario Dion, retired last month.

Richard is the sister-in-law of Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who himself has violated ethics rules in the past.

The news outraged opposition parties, particularly the Conservatives. Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett first raised the issue during question period on Wednesday.

“How can Canadians have confidence in the officers of Parliament if these guys