Federal government is running out of time to name a new ethics commissioner

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government says it has started a process to name a new ethics commissioner — but it's not clear whether a new commissioner can be appointed before the current one leaves office.

Interim commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein's mandate will end Thursday. It has been a year since Canada's previous ethics commissioner, Mario Dion, retired.

Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett suggested the government has delayed naming a new ethics commissioner because it wants to avoid scrutiny.

«It's no surprise that Justin Trudeau has delayed and meddled in this appointment because without a commissioner, there's no one to investigate him or his ministers,» he said.

If the ethics commissioner's position is vacant, the commissioner's office can't conclude investigations or launch new ones into wrongdoing by members of Parliament or other public officials.

«Consultations are underway in support of a proposed nomination per the Act and an announcement of a nomination will be made in due course,» said Privy Council spokesperson Pierre-Alain Bujold. He said the process involves consulting party leaders and the adoption of a resolution by the House of Commons ratifying the appointment.

Bujold did not say whether a decision will be made before von Finckenstein's mandate expires on Feb. 29.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet confirmed Tuesday evening that Blanchet has been «informed» of the government's proposed candidate. Late last week, the Bloc said it had not yet been consulted.

The Conservative Party and the NDP have not yet responded to questions from CBC News Tuesday evening regarding whether their leaders have been consulted.

In his most recent appearance before the House of Commons ethics committee