Liberals and NDP, at least, should strike deal to ensure whistleblower protection bill enacted along with key changes to stop foreign interference

Democracy Watch will challenge a prorogation of Parliament in court if it is clearly in the Liberal Party’s self-interest and happens at a time when opposition parties clearly intend to vote non-confidence in the government

(NOTE: While Governor General Mary Simon has granted today Prime Minister Trudeau’s request to prorogue Parliament until Monday, March 24th, after the prorogation, with the agreement of a majority of MPs in the House of Commons, any bill can be moved right back to whatever stage of parliamentary review that it reached before the prorogation, so the bills mentioned in this news release can still be passed before the next federal election)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, January 6, 2025

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch called on all parties, or at least the Liberals and NDP, to set aside their partisan self-interest and, before a prorogation or federal election happens, act in the public interest by enacting the long-delayed bill that strengthens federal whistleblower protection in key ways, and by enacting bills after the Hogue Inquiry reports to close all the huge loopholes that allow for secret, undemocratic and unethical spending, fundraising, donations, loans, lobbying and disinformation campaigns by foreign “proxies” and to strengthen enforcement and penalties.

Democracy Watch also announced that it will challenge in court any request by the Prime Minister that the Governor General prorogue (shut down) Parliament if the prorogation is clearly in the Liberal Party’s self-interest, and happens at a time when the opposition parties are clearly going to vote non-confidence in the government.  The challenge will be based on rulings won by DWatch in its past court cases challenging snap election calls, and the UK Supreme Court’s unanimous 2019 ruling that it was illegal for then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson to prorogue Parliament for no justifiable reason when a majority of MPs wanted Parliament to stay open and operating.

Bill C-290, which strengthens federal whistleblower protection in key ways, was introduced in the House way back in June 2022, is at second reading in the Senate.  Bill C-65, which was introduced in the House in March 2024 and changes the Canada Elections Act in some ways to prevent foreign interference and improve election fairness, is being amended by a House Committee.

The Hogue Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions will issue its final report by the end of January setting out recommendations for key changes to stop foreign interference.  Another bill will be needed after the Inquiry reports to close the many huge loopholes left open by Bill C-65 and Bill C-70.

These bills are among only 17 government bills that have not been enacted by Parliament out of the total of 79 government bills introduced since the 2021 election, and only a couple of the other bills are close to being enacted (Bill C-26 and Bill C-27 – the other outstanding bills that are only at initial stages of review are: Bill C-7, Bill C-17, Bill C-23, Bill C-33, Bill C-37, Bill C-38, Bill C-52, Bill C-53, Bill C-61, Bill C-63, Bill C-66, Bill C-71, Bill C-72, Bill C-73 and Bill C-77).

“The federal parties all worked together to enact Bill C-70 in five weeks last spring, and there is no good reason why, before a prorogation or the next federal election happens, they can’t work together to pass bills to strengthen whistleblower protection and close all the loopholes that allow for secret, unethical and undemocratic foreign interference in Canadian politics,” said Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch. “Any party that prevents these bills from passing into law before a prorogation or the next election will show that they are clearly more self-interested than dedicated to protecting the public interest by  stopping foreign interference and ensuring fair, democratic elections and policy-making processes and accountability for government wrongdoing.”

“Every voter should seriously consider not voting for any party that prevents these bills from passing before a prorogation or federal election happens,” said Conacher.

Democracy Watch intervened in the Hogue Inquiry, and submitted 6 policy papers to the Hogue Inquiry, as well as a report on the loopholes in Bill C-70.  DWatch’s final submission to the Inquiry contains links to all 6 policy papers, and summarizes the key points and recommendations for key changes set out in the papers.  Democracy Watch was represented at the Inquiry by Wade Poziomka and Nick Papageorge of Ross & McBride LLP.

Click here see a summary of all the key changes called for in Democracy Watch’s submissions to the Hogue Inquiry to close all the huge loopholes that allow for secret, undemocratic and unethical spending, fundraising, donations, loans, lobbying and disinformation campaigns by foreign “proxies” and to strengthen enforcement and penalties.

Click here to see the Backgrounder that summarizes all the loopholes and weak enforcement problems that make foreign interference legal and easy to do across Canada at every level of government.

Click here to see summary list of 17 key changes that need to be made to stop foreign interference.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch
Tel: (613) 241-5179
Cell: 416-546-3443
Email: [email protected]

Democracy Watch’s Protect Whistleblowers Who Protect You Campaign and Stop Foreign Interference in Canadian Politics Campaign and Honesty in Politics Campaign and Money in Politics Campaign and Stop Secret Unethical Lobbying Campaign and Government Ethics Campaign and Stop Bad Government Appointments Campaign