In December 2002, Democracy Watch applied to the Federal Court of Canada for a review of federal Ethics Counsellor Howard Wilson's bias and failure to uphold legal duties because of the delay in ruling on 8 complaints Democracy Watch had filed with the Ethics Counsellor.

In 7 of the 8 complaints, the complaint was based upon activities of a lobbyist which Democracy Watch believed violated Rule 8 of the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct which prevents lobbyists from undertaking any activity that constitutes improper influence and puts a federal public office holder in a conflict of interest situation.  The eighth complaint, filed on April 12, 2001 and concerning John Dossetor, alleged that Dossetor violated the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct by failing to register as a lobbyist.

Rule 8 is as follows:

“8. Improper Influence
Lobbyists shall not place public office holders in a conflict of interest by proposing or undertaking any action that would constitute an improper influence on a public office holder.”

Ethics Counsellor Howard Wilson's interpretation bulletin essentially states that a lobbyist only violates Rule 8 if the lobbyist enslaves a federal politician or other federal government official or extorts them, thereby forcing them to do something they would not do if they had a free will.  In other words, the Ethics Counsellor ruled that in order to violate Rule 8, a lobbyist would also have to violate the Criminal Code of Canada measures that outlaw enslavement and extortion. 

At the same time, according to Ethics Counsellor Howard Wilson's interpretation of Rule 8, a lobbyist could violate the Criminal Code of Canada measures that outlaw bribery without violating Rule 8 (because bribery would not force a federal politician or other federal government official to do something they would not do if they had a free will, as they would take the bribe willingly).

Using this ridiculous interpretation of Rule 8, Ethics Counsellor Howard Wilson proceeded through March 2003 to rule on 4 of Democracy Watch's 8 complaints about lobbyists violating Rule 8.  As none of the complaints were about a lobbyist enslaving or extorting a federal politician or other federal government official, the Ethics Counsellor ruled that none of the lobbyists had violated Rule 8.

In April and May 2003, Democracy Watch filed applications in the Federal Court of Canada for a judicial review of the 4 rulings by the Ethics Counsellor (May 23, 2003 news release about the judicial review court applications).

On Thursday, May 13, 2004, with the hearing of Democracy Watch's applications scheduled for Monday, May 17th, the federal government had the gall to file a motion with the Federal Court for dismissal of Democracy Watch's applications, on the basis that the federal Cabinet proclaimed Bill C-4 into law on May 10, 2004. 

Bill C-4 eliminated the Ethics Counsellor position and created the new positions of Ethics Commissioner (to enforce the then-in-force Public Office Holders Code and other ethics rules established by the Prime Minister), and the MPs Code that first came into force in October 2004) and the position of Registrar of Lobbyists (to enforce the Lobbyists Registration Act and the Lobbyists' Code).  The federal government's argument was that since the Ethics Counsellor position had ceased to exist, the issues raised by the judicial review applications were moot (meaning no longer relevant) and therefore Democracy Watch could no longer challenge the Ethics Counsellor in court.

On May 17, 2004 the Federal Court dismissed the federal government's motion, ruling that the applications were not moot, and that even if the issues raised in the applications were moot, there were still issues raised by the treatment of Democracy Watch's complaints by the Ethics Counsellor, and there were still issues of national importance that warranted rulings by the court. Federal Court 2004 ruling (See especially paragraphs 25-31 in the ruling).

On July 9, 2004, the Federal Court ruled that the Ethics Counsellor was institutionally biased (because of his lack of independence from the Prime Minister) and also specifically biased against Democracy Watch (because of his delay in dealing with Democracy Watch's complaints).   The Federal Court in effect ordered that Democracy Watch's 8 complaints must be re-considered by the new Ethics Commissioner and the new Registrar for Lobbyists. Federal Court 2004 ruling

The new Ethics Commissioner, Bernard Shapiro, refused to rule on any of the complaints.  For this reason, and other completely negligent and weak enforcement actions by Shapiro, Democracy Watch filed a complaint with the Ethics Commissioner on June 29, 2005 alleging that the Ethics Commissioner himself was violating the federal Public Office Holders Code and calling on Commissioner Shapiro to arrange an independent review of his actions and statements. Link to June 29, 2005 news release

In early August, Ethics Commissioner Shapiro responded to Democracy Watch's complaint, refusing to ensure an independent review of his actions and statements.

Unfortunately, the new Registrar of Lobbyists position was structured in a similar way as the former Ethics Counsellor position.  The former Ethics Counsellor had no independence from the Prime Minister, while the new Registrar had no independence initially from the Industry Minister, and after September 2005 from the Treasury Board minister.  As a result, Democracy Watch's position was that the Registrar was also biased and incapable of fairly and impartially upholding the Lobbyists Registration Act and Lobbyists' Code.

As a result of the biased actions and statements of federal Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro, and the biased structure of the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists, Democracy Watch launched a court challenge in September 2005 of the bias and incompetence of Commissioner Shapiro and Registrar Nelson. Link to September 29, 2005 news release

In addition, Registrar of Lobbyists Michael Nelson issued on May 31, 2007 a new ruling on another of Democracy Watch's 8 complaints, and issued on September 7, 2007 a ruling on another of the complaints.  For various reasons, Democracy Watch did not challenge either of these rulings in court.

On January 28, 2008, a hearing of Democracy Watch's court challenge of the Registrar of Lobbyists ruling occurred in the Federal Court of Canada in Toronto.  On February 19, 2008 (just three weeks after the court hearing), Deputy Judge Frenette issued his ruling upholding the Registrar of Lobbyists’ ruling and ordering Democracy Watch to pay the costs of the other parties. 

In March 2008, Democracy Watch filed an appeal of Deputy Judge Frenette's ruling, and the Federal Court of Appeal hearing of the appeal was on January 12, 2009 -- To see details about Frenette's ruling and Democracy Watch's appeal of the ruling, click here.

On March 12, 2009, the Federal Court of Appeal overturned Deputy Judge Frenette's ruling in every way, and rejected the Ethics Counsellor's/Registrar's interpretation of Rule 8 of the Lobbyists Code as "deeply flawed" -- To see details, click here.

Five Complaints from 2001-2004 Finally Ruled on in 2011-2012

As of spring 2011, Democracy Watch was still waiting for rulings from the Commissioner of Lobbying on the following 5 of its original 8 complaints.

Thankfully, on November 6, 2009 the Commissioner of Lobbying complied with the March 2009 Federal Court of Appeal ruling Democracy Watch had won, and issued a new, mostly legally correct and effective Guideline for Rule 8 of the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct.

However, Commissioner of Lobbying Karen Shepherd failed to apply the Guideline properly when she finally ruled on the following 5 complaints in late 2011-early 2012:

1. On March 27, 2001, Democracy Watch petitioned the Ethics Counsellor to investigate René Fugère, who was investigated by the RCMP for failing to register as a lobbyist.  Fugère was not charged even though clear evidence existed that Fugère was lobbying.  Given that Fugère is an unpaid aide to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, and that the Prime Minister's office was involved in at least one of the same grant decisions, Democracy Watch also believes that Fugère's lobbying activities put the Prime Minister in a conflict of interest. RULING:  On November 1, 2011, the Commissioner of Lobbying finally issued a ruling (PDF) finding Fugère guilty of violating the Lobbyists' Code in one case.  Concerning another situation, the Commissioner issued a ruling (PDF) that Fugère was not in violation of the Code.
2. On June 17, 2002, Democracy Watch petitioned the Ethics Counsellor to investigate possible violations of the Public Office Holders' Code and the Lobbyists' Code arising from activities of nine particular lobbyists who have worked with either the Prime Minister, a Cabinet minister or opposition MP while also lobbying the federal government.  (NOTE: The Ethics Counsellor ruled on this complaint on March 21, 2003; Democracy Watch's court challenge was filed on April 23, 2003, Federal Court File #T-641-03).  RULING: On August 22, 2011, the Commissioner of Lobbying finally issued a ruling (PDF) that stated that too much time had passed, and standards had changed, and therefore the Commissioner was refusing to find any of the lobbyists guilty.
3. On October 17, 2002, Democracy Watch petitioned the Ethics Counsellor to investigate possible violations of the Public Office Holders' Code and the Lobbyists' Code arising from secret donations of lobbyists to the leadership campaigns of John Manley, Sheila Copps and Allan Rock. (NOTE: The Ethics Counsellor ruled on this complaint on March 31, 2003; Democracy Watch's court challenge was filed on May 5, 2003, Federal Court File #T-711-03).  RULING: On January 26, 2012, the Commissioner of Lobbying finally issued a ruling (PDF) that stated that too much time had passed, and standards had changed, and therefore the Commissioner was refusing to find any of the lobbyists guilty.
   

4. On September 26, 2002, Democracy Watch petitioned the Ethics Counsellor to investigate possible violations of the Public Office Holders' Code and the Lobbyists' Code arising from the activities of numerous lobbyists paying to attend (and paying to golf with Cabinet ministers) at a federal Liberal Party golf tournament  held on August 19, 2002 in Chicoutimi, Quebec.  RULING: On November 8, 2012, the Commissioner of Lobbying finally issued a ruling (PDF) that stated that too much time had passed, and standards had changed, and therefore the Commissioner was refusing to find any of the lobbyists guilty. 

5. The complaint was filed against Paul Martin, Sheila Copps, and John Manley, alleging that they had violated the Public Office Holders Code by taking large donations from several corporations registered to lobby them and the federal government, and that the corporations had violated the Lobbyists' Code by making the donations (January 30, 2004 news release about the ethics complaints).  RULING: On January 26, 2012, the Commissioner of Lobbying finally issued a ruling (PDF) that stated that too much time had passed, and standards had changed, and therefore the Commissioner was refusing to find any of the lobbyists guilty.