The much-touted anti-corruption legislation, pushed by the Conservatives as part of their Accountability Act, is actually weaker than the rules it seeks to replace. Why am I not surprised?
OTTAWA — The Conservative government's proposed anti-corruption legislation is weaker in some instances than the rules it aims to replace, the former and current federal ethics czars told a Senate hearing yesterday evening.Former ethics counsellor Howard Wilson and current Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro said the old code of conduct kicked in even in instances of the appearance of a conflict of interest. The new rules, which would be enshrined in legislation, would apply only to strictly defined cases of wrongdoing.
"By putting what is now the code for public office holders into legislation, it becomes weakened and it also becomes more rigid. That is clearly the case," Mr. Wilson said.
Under the old rules, he said, politicians could accept gifts only from "close personal friends." The Accountability Act would allow politicians to accept gifts from all of their friends, which is a much wider category, he said.
Mr. Shapiro said that to be truly efficient, the Accountability Act needs general principles that would guide the conduct of federal politicians and senior officials.
"There are no sets of rules, no matter how comprehensive, that will cover all contingencies," he said. "In the final analysis, ethics are more a matter of judgment than a matter of rules."
So Harper's government has once again slipped a loophole into the Accountability Act that undermines much of the stated purpose of the act.This pretty much shreds the last vestiges of credibility the Accountability Act had, and it didn't have all that much to start with.
The Conservatives have said the Accountability Act is going to be the most signficant accomplishment of the Harper government. Sadly, I think they are right.
Double post. And one with a apelling error in the title!
Haha that should be 'spelling'
Caught it seconds after I did it, Paladiea. You're too damn fast.
Hey, has Tony Clement sold off his 25% share of that pharmaceutical co.?
Just wondering, thats all.
No, he hasn't, Rob. Can't find a buyer, he says. You know how pharmaceutical giants are known as fly-by-night organizations with slim profit margins. Who would want penny stocks like that? Poor Tony.
Great post, Tim, although it's frustrating that the message about the shell-games just isn't getting through broadly enough yet. Sandra Buckler, eg, has (deservedly) become a figure of ridicule in the msm, but for the wrong reasons (she's mean to journalists), and I'm sure she couldn't care less.
How good to be reminded of Tony's little embarrassment, though.
canadians will gradually come to realization of tories' "real" hidden agenda... the obvious plan to wait until they've got a majority before they slash the safe injection site is another example.
The federal government knows full well that there has never been a Canadian sovereignty established it is just more of their lies, because the Global government that they pledged allegiance to, has been giving orders to this federal government for years, so it matters not who wins at an exlection. And it accounts for all the corruption that they find loop hold for. It is a grand theratical show that many are sick of and refuse to vote.
because the Global government that they pledged allegiance to, has been giving orders to this federal government for years
Backed up by the threat of their black helicopters and cloned supersoldiers, no doubt?