One of the ongoing sources of cynicism during Jean Chrétien's reign time in office was the way that the outcome of any accusations of ministerial misconduct or conflict of interest seemed to be a foregone conclusion. There's a reason I referred to the former Ethics Counsellor as Howard "The Human Rubber Stamp" Wilson.
When PM the PM took over there was a lot of talk about transparency and a new day dawning. These matters would be taken seriously. Whistleblowers would be protected and wrongdoing would be properly investigated and exposed. The future's so bright you gotta wear shades, eh. It was in that context that the position of Ethics Commissioner was created and one Bernard Shapiro was appointed to the job.
Polunatic's been doing some digging and has a post up that suggests you don't need to run out and buy those new Raybans just yet. Go read. Then contemplate the distinct possibility that we've traded one ethics watchdog who panders to power for another.
