OTTAWA — Under fire for accepting donations from trade unions to help pay off a massive debt incurred in a defamation lawsuit related to the robocalls affair, New Democrat MP Pat Martin says he was extremely cautious and if people aren’t satisfied, perhaps it’s the rules that need to change.
Author: admin
U.S. robocall company again intervening in Canadian elections
There has been no shortage of questionable actions by Mayor Michael Fougere and the City of Regina during the city’s referendum on whether to turn its new waste water treatment plant over to a 30-year public-private partnership (P3) or to keep it public.
Key changes needed to federal ethics rules to strengthen watchdog and prevent conflicts of interest — Sun News
OTTAWA — The NDP’s union friends have come to the rescue of Manitoba MP Pat Martin as he faces expenses from a $5-million defamation lawsuit, but Canadians may never know how much money he raised from them.
Alberta’s cities, like cities and towns across Canada should be required to have more open meetings, with complaints allowed to an independent provincial watchdog and strong penalties for violations Calgary Herald
Mayor Naheed Nenshi defended his council’s commitment to transparency following recent concerns over the amount of time politicians spend debating public business behind closed doors.
Federal so-called 5-year lobbying ban is full of loopholes, allows Cabinet ministers and senior government officials to lobby the day after they leave office
Link to Hill Times article
Key changes needed to Canada’s open government systems to stop the muzzling of federal government scientists
Link to online video
Key changes needed to Canada’s open government systems to stop the muzzling of federal government scientists — CTV News
OTTAWA — Hundreds of frustrated scientists clad in their telltale white lab coats descended Monday on Parliament Hill to demand that the Harper government stop muzzling scientists and cutting research funding.
Canadians will participate and vote for politicians who make promises to make changes to open government, honesty in politics, waste prevention, and other key laws
T. JOHN’S, N.L. – As Kathy Dunderdale was poised almost two years ago to become Newfoundland and Labrador’s first elected female premier, she spoke about wanting not merely a four-year stint in power but an eight-year run.
Loopholes in ethics and lobbying laws allow federal Finance Minister’s top aide to leave and work and lobby for Scotiabank — Toronto Star
OTTAWA—Kevin McCarthy, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s chief of staff and one-time chief policy adviser on the banking sector, is leaving the federal government to go to a new job at Scotiabank, the Star has learned.
Loopholes allow politicians to lobby the day after they leve office
Letter to the Editor by Democracy Watch Board Member Duff Conacher published in the Globe and Mail
Dear Editor,
Your article makes the inaccurate claim that the federal Conservatives’ 2006 Accountability Act prevents “federal officials from lobbying the government for up to five years after their retirement . . .” (PM’s former Quebec adviser hired by lobbying firm – Sept. 4).
In fact, because of huge loopholes in the federal Lobbying Act and Conflict of Interest Act and codes, Cabinet ministers, their staff, Cabinet appointees, MPs and senators and their staff are all allowed to lobby the government the same day they retire or resign.
Under rules that have existed since 1986, Cabinet ministers for two years, and senior government officials for one year, have be careful whom they lobby for, and whom they lobby — but they are allowed to start lobbying the day they leave government.
The Accountability Act did nothing to close the loopholes, and Treasury Board minister Tony Clement has failed to take any steps to implement the proposals made in a May 2012 House of Commons Ethics Committee report to close some (but unfortunately not all) of the loopholes.
Until these loopholes are closed, everyone involved in federal politics will continue to be free to cash in and sell their inside information and connections to the highest bidder as soon as they finish their so-called public service.
Sincerely,
Duff Conacher
Board Member of Democracy Watch
Director of GoodOrg.ca Consulting
Internet: http://goodorg.ca
Twitter: @DuffConacher
Democracy Watch’s Government Ethics Campaign