{"id":11432,"date":"2020-01-20T06:24:39","date_gmt":"2020-01-20T11:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/?p=11432"},"modified":"2025-05-25T07:18:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-25T11:18:42","slug":"democracy-watchs-second-letter-questions-why-alberta-ethics-commissioner-asking-for-more-facts-before-ruling-on-minister-schweitzer-appointing-steve-allan-as-inquiry-commissioner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/democracy-watchs-second-letter-questions-why-alberta-ethics-commissioner-asking-for-more-facts-before-ruling-on-minister-schweitzer-appointing-steve-allan-as-inquiry-commissioner\/","title":{"rendered":"Democracy Watch\u2019s second letter questions why Alberta Ethics Commissioner asking for more facts before ruling on Minister Schweitzer appointing Steve Allan as inquiry commissioner?Democracy Watch\u2019s second letter questions why Alberta Ethics Commissioner asking for more facts before ruling on Minister Schweitzer appointing Steve Allan as inquiry commissioner?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Group\u2019s Dec. 11th letter contained several facts about how Steve Allan campaigned for Schweitzer, and donated to him directly<\/span><\/h3>\n

Courts and other ethics watchdogs in Canada have ruled in the past that election campaign assistance creates a clear conflict of interest<\/span><\/h3>\n\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<\/b>
Monday, January 20, 2020<\/p>\n\n

OTTAWA \u2013 Today, Democracy Watch released the second letter<\/a> it sent on Friday to Alberta Ethics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler calling on her to issue a public ruling on Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Doug Schweitzer recommending the appointment of Steve Allan to a $290,000 job as commissioner heading up the inquiry into foreign-funding of environmental groups, given Allan assisted Minister Schweitzer in his election campaign.<\/p>\n\n

Democracy Watch sent the second letter after receiving a letter<\/a> from Commissioner Trussler saying that its December 11th <\/sup>letter<\/a> didn\u2019t provide \u201csufficient particulars”<\/em> and that \u201cIf you wish me to consider your request you will need to provide the facts on which you are basing your allegations.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Democracy Watch\u2019s second letter questions what more facts Commissioner Trussler thinks are needed, given its first, 9-page letter linked to Minister Schweitzer\u2019s recommendation<\/a> that Steve Allan be appointed in the Kenney Cabinet\u2019s order that appointed Allan, and also linked to, and summarized, a CBC article<\/a> that set out how:<\/p>\n\n

  1. Steve Allan participated in the invitation for a nomination race campaign event for Minister Schweitzer in July 2018, which was distributed to invitees by Minister Schweitzer\u2019s assistant at Denton\u2019s law firm, where he was a lawyer at the time;<\/li>\n
  2. Allan also sent an April 2019 email to several associates urging them to vote for Minister Schweitzer in the Alberta provincial election, an email that said, in part, \u201cIf the UCP wins, there is an excellent chance Doug will be in Cabinet\u201d and;<\/li>\n
  3. Allan also donated $1,000 to Minister Schweitzer\u2019s UCP leadership campaign.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n

    In its second letter, Democracy Watch not only links to the appointment order and CBC article, it also attached a copy of both the order and article, in case Commissioner Trussler concern is that the webpage links were not evidence.<\/p>\n\n

    “Given the clear evidence set out in both of Democracy Watch\u2019s complaint letters, hopefully Ethics Commissioner Trussler will do the right thing and issue a public ruling very soon finding that Minister Schweitzer violated the provincial ethics law by participating in the decision to appoint Steve Allan as inquiry commissioner,\u201d<\/em> said Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch.<\/p>\n\n

    Subsection 2(1) and 3 of Alberta\u2019s Conflicts of Interest Act<\/em><\/a> prohibit a Minister from influencing or taking part in a decision when knowing that the decision might further the interests of a person directly associated with the Minister, or improperly further anyone\u2019s interests, and the Preamble to the Act<\/em> says all provincial politicians \u201c<\/em>are expected to act with integrity and impartiality\u201d<\/em> and \u201c<\/em>perform their duties of office and arrange their private affairs in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity of each Member\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n

    By assisting Minister Schweitzer\u2019s election efforts in these ways, Mr. Allan created a sense of obligation on the part of Minister Schweitzer to return the favour, which recommending Mr. Allan to a position that pay $290,000 definitely did. In this way, Minister Schweitzer improperly further Mr. Allan\u2019s private interests.<\/p>\n\n

    As a result, as pages 3-9 of Democracy Watch\u2019s complaint letter set out, based on a 1993 ruling by B.C.\u2019s Conflict of Interest Commissioner<\/a> about people assisting with a Minister\u2019s election campaign (especially p. 31, and pp. 34-39), and the unanimous Federal Court of Appeal ruling Democracy Watch won in 2009<\/a> (paras. 52-53), and a related federal lobbying rule<\/a>, and past rulings concerning what are improper actions are by politicians by the federal and Ontario ethics commissioners, and the federal lobbying commissioner Democracy Watch\u2019s position is that Minister Schweitzer violated the Conflict of Interest Act<\/em> by participating in the appointment of Steve Allan.<\/p>\n\n

    Ethics Commissioner Trussler is not required to investigate, but Democracy Watch\u2019s position is that it would be simply negligent for her to fail to do so given the clear evidence that Minister Schweitzer and Mr. Allan are directly associated, and that Mr. Allan provided significant assistance to Minister Schweitzer\u2019s election efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:<\/strong>
    Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch
    Tel: (613) 241-5179
    Cell: 416-546-3443
    Email:     info@democracywatch.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

    Democracy Watch\u2019s Government Ethics Campaign<\/a><\/p>\n\n

    Group\u2019s Dec. 11th letter contained several facts about how Steve Allan campaigned for Schweitzer, and donated to him directly<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Courts and other ethics watchdogs in Canada have ruled in the past that election campaign assistance creates a clear conflict of interest<\/span><\/h3>\n\n

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<\/b>
    Monday, January 20, 2020<\/p>\n\n

    OTTAWA \u2013 Today, Democracy Watch released the second letter<\/a> it sent on Friday to Alberta Ethics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler calling on her to issue a public ruling on Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Doug Schweitzer recommending the appointment of Steve Allan to a $290,000 job as commissioner heading up the inquiry into foreign-funding of environmental groups, given Allan assisted Minister Schweitzer in his election campaign.<\/p>\n\n

    Democracy Watch sent the second letter after receiving a letter<\/a> from Commissioner Trussler saying that its December 11th <\/sup>letter<\/a> didn\u2019t provide \u201csufficient particulars”<\/em> and that \u201cIf you wish me to consider your request you will need to provide the facts on which you are basing your allegations.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n

    Democracy Watch\u2019s second letter questions what more facts Commissioner Trussler thinks are needed, given its first, 9-page letter linked to Minister Schweitzer\u2019s recommendation<\/a> that Steve Allan be appointed in the Kenney Cabinet\u2019s order that appointed Allan, and also linked to, and summarized, a CBC article<\/a> that set out how:<\/p>\n\n

    1. Steve Allan participated in the invitation for a nomination race campaign event for Minister Schweitzer in July 2018, which was distributed to invitees by Minister Schweitzer\u2019s assistant at Denton\u2019s law firm, where he was a lawyer at the time;<\/li>\n
    2. Allan also sent an April 2019 email to several associates urging them to vote for Minister Schweitzer in the Alberta provincial election, an email that said, in part, \u201cIf the UCP wins, there is an excellent chance Doug will be in Cabinet\u201d and;<\/li>\n
    3. Allan also donated $1,000 to Minister Schweitzer\u2019s UCP leadership campaign.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n

      In its second letter, Democracy Watch not only links to the appointment order and CBC article, it also attached a copy of both the order and article, in case Commissioner Trussler concern is that the webpage links were not evidence.<\/p>\n\n

      “Given the clear evidence set out in both of Democracy Watch\u2019s complaint letters, hopefully Ethics Commissioner Trussler will do the right thing and issue a public ruling very soon finding that Minister Schweitzer violated the provincial ethics law by participating in the decision to appoint Steve Allan as inquiry commissioner,\u201d<\/em> said Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch.<\/p>\n\n

      Subsection 2(1) and 3 of Alberta\u2019s Conflicts of Interest Act<\/em><\/a> prohibit a Minister from influencing or taking part in a decision when knowing that the decision might further the interests of a person directly associated with the Minister, or improperly further anyone\u2019s interests, and the Preamble to the Act<\/em> says all provincial politicians \u201c<\/em>are expected to act with integrity and impartiality\u201d<\/em> and \u201c<\/em>perform their duties of office and arrange their private affairs in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity of each Member\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n

      By assisting Minister Schweitzer\u2019s election efforts in these ways, Mr. Allan created a sense of obligation on the part of Minister Schweitzer to return the favour, which recommending Mr. Allan to a position that pay $290,000 definitely did. In this way, Minister Schweitzer improperly further Mr. Allan\u2019s private interests.<\/p>\n\n

      As a result, as pages 3-9 of Democracy Watch\u2019s complaint letter set out, based on a 1993 ruling by B.C.\u2019s Conflict of Interest Commissioner<\/a> about people assisting with a Minister\u2019s election campaign (especially p. 31, and pp. 34-39), and the unanimous Federal Court of Appeal ruling Democracy Watch won in 2009<\/a> (paras. 52-53), and a related federal lobbying rule<\/a>, and past rulings concerning what are improper actions are by politicians by the federal and Ontario ethics commissioners, and the federal lobbying commissioner Democracy Watch\u2019s position is that Minister Schweitzer violated the Conflict of Interest Act<\/em> by participating in the appointment of Steve Allan.<\/p>\n\n

      Ethics Commissioner Trussler is not required to investigate, but Democracy Watch\u2019s position is that it would be simply negligent for her to fail to do so given the clear evidence that Minister Schweitzer and Mr. Allan are directly associated, and that Mr. Allan provided significant assistance to Minister Schweitzer\u2019s election efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:<\/strong>
      Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch
      Tel: (613) 241-5179
      Cell: 416-546-3443
      Email:       info@democracywatch.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

      Democracy Watch\u2019s Government Ethics Campaign<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Group\u2019s Dec. 11th letter contained several facts about how Steve Allan campaigned for Schweitzer, and donated to him directly Courts and other ethics watchdogs in Canada have ruled in the past that election campaign assistance creates a clear conflict of interest FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Monday, January 20, 2020 OTTAWA \u2013 Today, Democracy Watch released the second […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11432"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18488,"href":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11432\/revisions\/18488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/democracywatch.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}