Tuesday, April 11, 2006

OTTAWA - Today, Democracy Watch applauded most of the measures in the new “Federal Accountability Act” (Bill C-2 introduced today -- See it and all related documents at: http://www.accountability.gc.ca) but also expressed concerns about serious gaps in the Act and called on the Conservative Party to expand it to include key loophole-closing accountability measures they promised would be in the Act. 

Democracy Watch plans to file an ethics complaint against Prime Minister Stephen Harper for breaking election promises because many promised measures are not included in the Act and some measures in the Act are steps backwards and were not promised.  Democracy Watch believes the failure to include these promised measures violates the requirement in federal ethics rules to “act with honesty”.  One of the worst aspects of the Act is that it proposes to remove the “act with honesty” requirement from the ethics rules for Cabinet ministers, their staff, Cabinet appointees and senior public servants.

Democracy Watch also called on the Conservatives to refer Bill C-2 to committee after first reading, to ensure that all stakeholders and opposition parties have a full opportunity to add measures to it, especially by passing a full “honesty-in-politics” law and facilitating the establishment of citizen watchdog groups to watch over key industry sectors.

The Act will, if passed as introduced, strengthen the rules, enforcement process and penalties in the key areas of Cabinet appointments, access-to-information, whistleblower protection, ethics for federal politicians and public servants, lobbying regulation, political donations, truth-in-budgeting and auditing, government contracting (including in polling and advertising).  However, in part because the Conservatives broke their promises, more than 30 key loopholes and flaws will remain in the government’s accountability system if the Act is not strengthened through the parliamentary review process.

“The Conservatives’ should have included all their promised measures in the “Federal Accountability Act” and they have violated the public trust by breaking their election promises.  Although the Act will do a lot to clean up and strengthen the federal government’s ethics, lobbying, spending, transparency and general accountability enforcement systems key loopholes will remain and the Conservatives should work with the other parties and close these loopholes” said Duff Conacher, Coordinator of Democracy Watch.

Democracy Watch completed the only detailed, public analysis of the federal parties’ election platforms in the area of government accountability, and released its 2006 Government Accountability Election Platform Report Card on January 18th (the Report Card is set out below). 

The following are the Conservatives’ promised measures not included in the “Federal Accountability Act” or watered down to make them ineffective (quotation marks indicate a quotation from the Conservatives’ election platform):

• the Act does not “Allow members of the public - not just politicians - to make complaints to the Ethics Commissioner” nor does it “Make part-time or non-remunerated ministerial advisers subject to the Ethics Code” nor does it "Close the loopholes that allow ministers to vote on matters connected with their business interests" and it removes the ‘act with honesty’ and ‘uphold the highest ethical standards’ and other strict rules from the ethics rules and attempts to protect the Ethics Commissioner from review by the courts, and while it does “Give the Ethics Commissioner the power to fine violators” the fines are only for violating some sections of Code and the maximum fine is only $500 (fines should be for violating any section and be at level of at least 6 months of annual salary);
• secret lobbying will still be legal because the Conservatives broke their promise to “Require ministers and senior government officials to record their contacts with lobbyists” -- instead, only registered lobbyists (which does not include unpaid lobbyists or corporate lobbyists who spend less than 20% of their time lobbying) will only be required to disclose some of their communications;\
• not included in the Act are “the Information Commissioner’s recommendations for reform of the Access to Information Act” nor does the Act “Give the Information Commissioner the power to order the release of information” nor does it expand the Access law to all “foundations, and organizations that spend taxpayers’ money or perform public functions” nor does it “Subject the exclusion of Cabinet confidences to review by the Information Commissioner” nor does it “Oblige public officials to create the records necessary to document their actions and decisions” nor does it “Provide a general public interest override for all exemptions, so that the public interest is put before the secrecy of the government” nor does it “Ensure that all exemptions from the disclosure of government information are justified only on the basis of the harm or injury that would result from disclosure, not blanket exemption rules” nor does it “Ensure that the disclosure requirements of the Access to Information Act cannot be circumvented by secrecy provisions in other federal acts, while respecting the confidentiality of national security and the privacy of personal information”;
• the reward of $1,000 for whistleblowers is to low to allow a whistleblower to move on to another position or career if they face hostility from their colleagues;

Since 1994, Democracy Watch has been leading the struggle to clean up and strengthen the federal government’s accountability system, and the “Federal Accountability Act” package includes more than 40 measures developed and proposed by Democracy Watch and its nation-wide coalitions.

Essentially, to clean-up the federal government and make everyone involved in it accountable, all loopholes must be removed in the spending, access-to-information, political donations, ethics, lobbying, whistleblower protection, election and hiring/appointment laws, and all these laws must cover every government and government-funded institution, with high fines and firing as the penalty for all violations.

All federal parties should work together to enact an additional 22 measures to close and correct the following key gaps, loopholes and flaws that are not addressed in the “Federal Accountability Act”:

To empower citizens in their day-to-day relations with corporations and government: (For details, go to Democracy Watch's Citizen Association Campaign webpage and Voter Rights Campaign webpage)

• establish (using the very low-cost, effective method that has worked very well in the U.S.) broad-based, well-resourced, democratically structured citizen watchdog groups for airlines, banks and insurance companies, telecommunication companies, and for investors in publicly traded companies, and;
• pass a “meaningful public consultation” law to ensure Canadians have a strong, direct and regular say in government policy-making (as in Sweden), and to decrease the undemocratic, unethical influence of high-powered lobbyists.

• pass an “honesty-in-politics” law with high fines as the penalty for any political leader and party that breaks election promises (unless emergency conditions force the promise-breaking), and as the penalty for anyone in the federal government who misleads voters in between elections (such a law has been partially proposed by the NDP);
• give the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner the power to penalize violators of the laws, codes and rules they enforce with high fines, suspensions and firings (the Act only gives the Ethics Commissioner the power to penalize violators with very low fines);
• require MPs who switch parties between elections to resign and run in a by-election (as the NDP has partially proposed) unless their party leader has been found guilty of dishonest or unethical actions and has not resigned;
• create an independent ethics watchdog for the Senate (currently the Senate Ethics Officer is completely under the control of a Committee of senators);
• prohibit all four ethics watchdogs from giving secret advice or making secret rulings;
• ban MPs, senators and their staff from becoming lobbyists for one year after leaving office, and (as the NDP has proposed) clearly ban lobbyists from working directly or indirectly with government, and in senior campaign positions, and;
• make the Lobbyists’ Code, the MPs Code, and the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service from codes into regulations (the Conservatives are only changing the Public Office Holders Code into a law).

• as the NDP has partially proposed, require lobbyists to disclose on the on-line, searchable Lobbyist Registry how much they spend on each lobbying campaign; 
• as the NDP has proposed, require lobbyists to disclose on the Lobbyist Registry their past work with any government, political party or candidate, and;
• require ministers, ministerial staff, and senior public servants in all government institutions to disclose in the Lobbyist Registry all communications with anyone outside of government attempting to influence their decisions or actions (the "Federal Accountability Act" is so weak in this area that secret lobbying will still be legal in many cases).

• to fulfill their vague pledge to ensure party leadership and nomination races are “fair, transparent, and democratic” the Conservatives should limit spending on leadership campaigns, and restrict loans to parties, election candidates and party leadership candidates so that corporations, unions and other wealthy interests cannot use loans to influence the government and politicians;
• ban secret donations to nomination race and party leadership race candidates (the Act only bans secret donations to election candidates);
• require disclosure of the identity of each individual donor's employer (as in the U.S.) and direct organizational affiliations;
• enact donation limits and disclosure requirements for “volunteer labour” donated to parties and candidates during nomination race, election and party leadership campaigns, to close this existing secret donations loophole (the Act only bans secret money and gift donations); 
• as proposed by the federal Department of Finance, require by law that federal politicians, their staff, Cabinet appointees and any government employees with decision-making power are placed on the anti-corruption watch list of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (Fintrac) so that their bank accounts can be tracked for suspicious transactions (For details, see the Department of Finance's June 2005 consultation paper, Chapter 1, section 1.5 entitled "Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)" at: http://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/pubs/enhancing_1e.html#chapter%202 and the related news release), and;
• as party leadership campaign candidates are required to do, require all candidates and parties to disclose publicly all donations, and the status of any loans, during the week before election day, so voters know who is bankrolling campaigns.

• check the Prime Minister’s power to make appointments by giving opposition party leaders a veto over more than 2,000 appointees who are in key law enforcement positions (the Act only proposes majority approval by secret ballot in the House of Commons for Officers of Parliament, and merit-based nomination process for other appointees);.

• give the Information Commissioner the power to penalize violators of the Access to Information Act with high fines, suspensions and firings, including for failing to maintain an information system that fulfills legal disclosure requirements;

• give the Auditor General the power to penalize violators of the Financial Administration Act and Treasury Board rules with high fines, suspensions and firings (the Conservatives have only pledged to give the Ethics Commissioner the power to penalize violators of ethics rules, and to pass “new Criminal Code penalties for fraud involving the misuse of taxpayers’ money”);
• as Justice Gomery recommended, ensure that any “special reserve” funds are under the control of Treasury Board and covered by an annual, public report, and;
• require everyone in the government to submit the actual, detailed receipt (as opposed to payment receipt) for all expenses claimed to prevent unjustified expense claims.

II. Open Government Measures
 5. Strengthening access-to-information system
 6. Exposing behind-closed-door communications
 7. Strengthening lobbying disclosure and ethics, and the enforcement system

IV. Representative, Citizen-Driven Government Measures
 10. Increasing meaningful public consultation
 11. Restricting power of Cabinet to make appointments
 12. Making the Senate democratic or abolish it
 13. Ensuring free, fair and representative elections

V. General Government Accountability Measures
 14. Facilitating citizen watchdog groups over government
 15. Ensuring effective whistleblower protection
 16. Ensuring loophole free laws and strong penalties for wrongdoers

1. Requiring honesty-in-politics - Pass a law that requires all federal Cabinet ministers, MPs, Senators, political staff, Cabinet appointees and government employees (including at Crown corporations, agencies, boards, commissions, courts and tribunals) nomination race and election candidates to tell the truth, with an easily accessible complaint process to a fully independent watchdog agency that is fully empowered to investigate and penalize anyone who lies. (Go to Voter Rights Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - D
Conservative Party - I
Green Party - I
Liberal Party - F
New Democrat Party - B

Bloc Québécois - B-
Conservative Party - A-
Green Party - B+
Liberal Party - F
New Democrat Party - C+

Bloc Québécois - I
Conservative Party - B+
Green Party - B-
Liberal Party - F
New Democrat Party - C+

Bloc Québécois - B-
Conservative Party - B
Green Party - B-
Liberal Party - F
New Democrat Party - B-

5. Strengthening access-to-information system - Strengthen the federal access-to-information law and government information management system by applying the law to all government/publicly funded institutions, creating a public interest override of all access exemptions, having Parliament (as opposed to Cabinet) approve the Information Commissioner's annual budgets (as is currently the process for the federal Ethics Commissioner), and giving the federal Information Commissioner the power to order the release of documents (as in Ontario, Alberta and B.C.), to order changes to government institutions' information systems, and to penalize violators of access laws, regulations, policies and rules.  (Go to Open Government Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - A-
Conservative Party - A
Green Party - B+
Liberal Party - F
New Democrat Party - B+

Bloc Québécois - B-
Conservative Party - A-
Green Party - B
Liberal Party - F
New Democrat Party - I

Bloc Québécois - B+
Conservative Party - B+
Green Party - B
Liberal Party - F
New Democrat Party - B+

8. Increasing powers of Auditor General - Increase the independence of the Auditor General by requiring approval of appointment from opposition party leaders; increase auditing resources of the Auditor General and having Parliament (as opposed to Cabinet) approve the Auditor General's annual budget (as is currently the process for the federal Ethics Commissioner), and; empower the Auditor General to audit all government institutions, to report on the size of the government deficit/surplus, to make orders for changes to government institutions' spending systems, and to penalize violators of federal Treasury Board spending rules or Auditor General orders.  (Go to Voter Rights Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - B-
Conservative Party - A-
Green Party - A-
Liberal Party - D
New Democrat Party - C+

9. Restricting government advertising - Empower a government watchdog agency to preview and prohibit government advertising that promotes the ruling party, especially leading up to an election (similar to the restrictions in Manitoba and Saskatchewan).  (Go to Government Ethics Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - C
Conservative Party - D+
Green Party - A-
Liberal Party - I
New Democrat Party - I

10. Increasing meaningful public consultation - Pass a law requiring all government departments and institutions to use consultation processes that provide meaningful opportunities for citizen participation, especially concerning decisions that affect the lives of all Canadians.  (Go to Voter Rights Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - C-
Conservative Party - C-
Green Party - F
Liberal Party - F
New Democrat Party - C+

Bloc Québécois - B+
Conservative Party - B+
Green Party - A-
Liberal Party - F
New Democrat Party - A-

Bloc Québécois - B
Conservative Party - A
Green Party - I
Liberal Party - I
New Democrat Party - D

Bloc Québécois - B-
Conservative Party - B
Green Party - B+
Liberal Party - I
New Democrat Party - B

14. Facilitating citizen watchdog groups over government - Require federal government institutions to enclose one-page pamphlets periodically in their mailings to citizens inviting citizens to join citizen-funded and directed groups to represent citizen interests in policy-making and enforcement processes of key government departments (for example, on ethics, spending, and health care) as has been proposed in the U.S. and recommended for Canadian banks and other financial institutions in 1998 by a federal task force, a House of Commons Committee, and a Senate Committee.  (Go to Citizen Association Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - I
Conservative Party - F
Green Party - F
Liberal Party - I
New Democrat Party - F

Bloc Québécois - A
Conservative Party - A
Green Party - B+
Liberal Party - D
New Democrat Party - B+

Bloc Québécois - B+
Conservative Party - B+
Green Party - B
Liberal Party - C
New Democrat Party - A-

II. Open Government Measures
 5. Strengthening access-to-information system
 6. Exposing behind-closed-door communications
 7. Strengthening lobbying disclosure and ethics, and the enforcement system
 

IV. Representative, Citizen-Driven Government Measures
 10. Increasing meaningful public consultation
 11. Restricting power of Cabinet to make appointments
 12. Making the Senate democratic or abolish it
 13. Ensuring free, fair and representative elections

V. General Government Accountability Measures
 14. Facilitating citizen watchdog groups over government
 15. Ensuring effective whistleblower protection
 16. Ensuring loophole free laws and strong penalties for wrongdoers

1. Requiring honesty-in-politics - Pass a law that requires all federal Cabinet ministers, MPs, Senators, political staff, Cabinet appointees and government employees (including at Crown corporations, agencies, boards, commissions, courts and tribunals) nomination race and election candidates to tell the truth, with an easily accessible complaint process to a fully independent watchdog agency that is fully empowered to investigate and penalize anyone who lies. (Go to Voter Rights Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - D
- "Le Bloc Québécois s'engage à veiller scrupuleusement et au respect des règles démocratiques par le gouvernement fédéral." (p.10)
- "Making sure that the federal government respects the rules of democracy, the laws of Québec and governmental integrity to avoid another sponsorship scandal" (p.1 of the Bloc's 2-page English summary of their platform)
- "Le Bloc Québécois continuera à surveiller l'utilisation qui est faite des fonds publics à Ottawa et à dénoncer tous les cas de patronage, de détournement de fonds, de trafic d'influence, de conflit d'intérêts et de fraude." (p.21)

Conservative Party - I
- Nothing related to proposal in platform

Green Party - I
- Nothing related to proposal in platform

Liberal Party - F
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- "A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - B
- "Keep governments accountable for their promises and obligations by appointing a Parliamentary Commissioner to use international and mutually-acceptable standards as the basis for regular public report cards on government conduct. The Commissioner will receive and investigate complaints about government actions or omissions, negotiate their resolution, and report to Parliament when recommendations are not accepted and implemented." (p.22)
- "Pass a new Accountability to the Electorate Act that makes MPs accountable to their electors when they switch parties. This will require MPs to resign their seats and seek election again if they want to switch parties, or to join a party after being elected as independents. Members would, however, be permitted to leave their parties and sit as independents without triggering a by-election." (p.25)
 

2. Strengthening ethics standards for politicians, political staff, Cabinet appointees and government employees, and ethics enforcement - Close the loopholes in the existing ethics rules (including requiring resignation and a by-election if an MP switches parties between elections) and apply them to all government institutions (including all Crown corporations), and as proposed by the federal Department of Finance place anyone with decision-making power on the anti-corruption watch list of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (Fintrac) so deposits to their bank accounts can be tracked, and; strengthen the independence and effectiveness of all the newly created politician and government employee ethics watchdog positions (the Ethics Commissioner for Cabinet and MPs, the Senate Ethics Officer for senators, the Public Service Integrity Officer for government employees, the Registrar of Lobbyists for lobbyists) by giving opposition party leaders a veto over appointees, having Parliament (as opposed to Cabinet) approve their annual budgets (as is currently the process for the Ethics Commissioner), prohibiting the watchdogs from giving secret advice, requiring them to investigate all complaints (including anonymous complaints), fully empowering them to penalize rule-breakers, changing all the codes they enforce into laws, and ensuring that all their decisions can be reviewed by the courts.  (Go to Government Ethics Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - B-
- "Le Bloc Québécois s'engage à veiller scrupuleusement et au respect des règles démocratiques par le gouvernement fédéral." (p.10)
- "Making sure that the federal government respects the rules of democracy, the laws of Québec and governmental integrity to avoid another sponsorship scandal" (p.1 of the Bloc's 2-page English summary of their platform)
- "Pour permettre à la démocratie québécoise d'avancer plutôt que de reculer, le Bloc Québécois s'engage à : . . . - faire le ménage à Ottawa afin que les impôts des Québécoises et des Québécois ne servent plus à enfreindre les règles démocratiques et à nourrir la corruption." (p.20)
- "Le Bloc Québécois continuera à surveiller l'utilisation qui est faite des fonds publics à Ottawa et à dénoncer tous les cas de patronage, de détournement de fonds, de trafic d'influence, de conflit d'intérêts et de fraude." (p.21)
- "Le Bloc Québécois propose que la détermination du budget de fonctionnement des agents du Parlement (Commissaire à l’information du Canada, commissaire à la protection de la vie privée du Canada, commissaire aux langues officielles, directeur général des élections, vérificateur général du Canada) et du commissaire à l'éthique soit effectuée par un comité parlementaire (composé d’un membre par parti politique officiel représenté à la Chambre des communes), appuyé par un panel d'experts et d'un représentant du bureau concerné." (p.26)
- "Le Bloc Québécois propose que le registraire des lobbyistes obtienne le statut d'agent du Parlement comme, par exemple, le vérificateur général. Le Bloc Québécois propose également que le registraire ait le mandat et les moyens pour enquêter sur les infractions. De plus, nous proposerons des amendements au régime actuel d'enregistrement des lobbyistes afin d’étendre les activités qui doivent être déclarées, d’obtenir une application plus sérieuse de la période d’exclusion pour un fonctionnaire ou un élu et d’augmenter les peines imposées aux contrevenants." (p.27)
- "Le Bloc Québécois demande que le processus de grief soit modifié de façon à répondre adéquatement aux plaintes formulées par les militaires." (p.196)

Conservative Party - A-
- "A Conservative government will: - Ensure that all Officers of Parliament are appointed through consultation with all parties in the House of Commons and confirmed through a secret ballot of all Members of Parliament, not just named by the Prime Minister. This appointment process will cover: - The Ethics Commissioner - The Auditor General - The Chief Electoral Officer - The Information Commissioner - The Privacy Commissioner - The Registrar of Lobbyists -- Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for appointments to government boards, commissions, and agencies, to ensure that competitions for posts are widely publicized and fairly conducted." (p.9)
- "A Conservative government will: - Give the Ethics Commissioner the power to fine violators. - Prevent the Prime Minister from overruling the Ethics Commissioner on whether the Prime Minister, a minister, or an official is in violation of the Conflict of Interest Code. - Enshrine the Conflict of Interest Code into law. - Close the loopholes that allow ministers to vote on matters connected with their business interests. - End “venetian blind” trusts that allow ministers to remain informed about their business interests, and require all ministerial assets to be placed in truly blind trusts. - Allow members of the public - not just politicians - to make complaints to the Ethics Commissioner. - Make part-time or non-remunerated ministerial advisers subject to the Ethics Code." (p.12)

Green Party - B+
- "172. Create a Government Accountability Act to ensure that all those who monitor government are selected at arms length from those they monitor, and to guarantee transparency and openness for all government activities." (p.29)
- "173. Strengthen the mandates of Independent Officers of Parliament, including the Auditor General and the Information Commissioner." (p.29)
- "174. Replace the current Ethics Commissioner, who reports privately to the Prime Minister, with an independent Ethics Commission who would report to Parliament appointed through a merit-based process with strong powers to investigate government officials and lobbyists." (p.29)
- "179. Institute mandatory training in ethics for MPs and their staffs and require all MPs and staff to take in-house training on the basics of good management and ethics in Parliament." (p.29)

Liberal Party - F
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - C+
- "Pass a new Accountability to the Electorate Act that makes MPs accountable to their electors when they switch parties. This will require MPs to resign their seats and seek election again if they want to switch parties, or to join a party after being elected as independents. Members would, however, be permitted to leave their parties and sit as independents without triggering a by-election." (p.25)
- "End abuses in the appointment of other public officials by: - Converting more Governor-in-Council (GIC) appointments to normal public service positions. - Establishing an independent advisory committee to develop criteria for GIC appointments and to act as a central clearing house for appointment recommendations to the Prime Minister and responsible Ministers. - Requiring approval by Parliamentary Committees of appointments of senior officers and board members of government agencies and Crown Corporations." (p.25)
 

3. Making the political donations system democratic - Prohibit donations by corporations, unions and other organizations to candidates for public office; require disclosure of all donations (including the identity of the donor's employer (as in the U.S.) and/ or major affiliations) and loans quarterly and before any election day (closing the loophole that currently allows secret, unlimited donations to nomination race and election candidates); lower the individual donation limit from $5,000 to a level affordable for the average Canadian (e.g. $1,000); limit spending on campaigns for the leadership of political parties; maintain limits on third-party (non-political party) advertising during elections, and; lower the public funding of political parties from $1.75 per vote received to $0.75 per vote received (to ensure that in order to prosper parties need to have active, ongoing support of a broad base of individuals) and ensure riding associations receive a fair share of this funding.  (Go to Money in Politics Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - I
- Nothing related to proposal in platform

Conservative Party - B+
- "A Conservative government will: - Limit individual donations to parties or candidates to a maximum of $1,000. - Prohibit all corporate, union, and organization donations to political parties, ridings, and candidates. - Ban cash donations to political parties or candidates of more than $20. - Extend to ten years the period for which Elections Act violations can be investigated and prosecuted." (p.8)
- "A Conservative government will: Prohibit nominated candidates or MPs seeking re-election from accepting large personal gifts. - Ban the use of trust funds to finance candidates’ campaigns. - Require that all sitting or elected MPs report the existence of any trust funds or secret accounts, and that such accounts be wound up." (p.9)

Green Party - B-
- "177. Limit the amount of donations to candidates to no more than $1,000 annually from any donor, with the full identity of donors clearly disclosed." (p.29)
- "189. Move from the current partial ban on corporate and union donations to political parties to a full ban on such donations, modeled on Québec and Manitoba provincial legislation." (p.30)

Liberal Party - F
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - C+
- "Pass a new Leadership Accountability Act to shed the bright light of accountability onto party leadership contests. Jack Layton and the NDP would pass laws to put strict spending caps on party leadership contests to keep them fair, democratic and free of corruption." (p.26)
 

4. Closing down the revolving door - Prohibit lobbyists from working for government departments or serving in senior positions for political parties or candidates for public office (as in New Mexico and Maryland), and from having business connections with anyone who does, and extend the period for former Cabinet ministers, ministerial staff and senior public officials to five years (and for MPs, their staff, and government employees to three years) during which they are prohibited from becoming a lobbyist or working with corporations or organizations with which they had direct dealings while in government.  (Go to Government Ethics Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - B-
- "Le Bloc Québécois s'engage à veiller scrupuleusement et au respect des règles démocratiques par le gouvernement fédéral." (p.10)
- "Making sure that the federal government respects the rules of democracy, the laws of Québec and governmental integrity to avoid another sponsorship scandal" (p.1 of the Bloc's 2-page English summary of their platform)
- "Pour permettre à la démocratie québécoise d'avancer plutôt que de reculer, le Bloc Québécois s'engage à : . . . - faire le ménage à Ottawa afin que les impôts des Québécoises et des Québécois ne servent plus à enfreindre les règles démocratiques et à nourrir la corruption." (p.20)
- "Le Bloc Québécois continuera à surveiller l'utilisation qui est faite des fonds publics à Ottawa et à dénoncer tous les cas de patronage, de détournement de fonds, de trafic d'influence, de conflit d'intérêts et de fraude." (p.21)
- "Le Bloc Québécois propose que le registraire des lobbyistes obtienne le statut d'agent du Parlement comme, par exemple, le vérificateur général. Le Bloc Québécois propose également que le registraire ait le mandat et les moyens pour enquêter sur les infractions. De plus, nous proposerons des amendements au régime actuel d'enregistrement des lobbyistes afin d’étendre les activités qui doivent être déclarées, d’obtenir une application plus sérieuse de la période d’exclusion pour un fonctionnaire ou un élu et d’augmenter les peines imposées aux contrevenants." (p.27)

Conservative Party - B
- "A Conservative government will: - Extend to five years the period during which former ministers, ministerial staffers, and senior public servants cannot lobby government." (p.8)

Green Party - B-
 - "184. Strengthen the rules of conduct for lobbying. The Auditor General, in auditing these activities will determine if these rules are in the best interest of individual Canadians and make recommendations to the Attorney General where changes are needed so that lobbying does not unduly skew parliamentary decisions." (p.29)

Liberal Party - F
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - B-
- "Take power out of the hands of lobbyists and ensure all decisions are made in the open by: . . . - Prohibiting businesses (including their owners, partners, employees or subsidiaries) from providing consulting advice to a government agency or department while simultaneously engaging in lobbying activity." (p.24)
 
 

5. Strengthening access-to-information system - Strengthen the federal access-to-information law and government information management system by applying the law to all government/publicly funded institutions, creating a public interest override of all access exemptions, having Parliament (as opposed to Cabinet) approve the Information Commissioner's annual budgets (as is currently the process for the federal Ethics Commissioner), and giving the federal Information Commissioner the power to order the release of documents (as in Ontario, Alberta and B.C.), to order changes to government institutions' information systems, and to penalize violators of access laws, regulations, policies and rules.  (Go to Open Government Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - A-
- "Le Bloc Québécois s'engage à veiller scrupuleusement et au respect des règles démocratiques par le gouvernement fédéral." (p.10)
- "Making sure that the federal government respects the rules of democracy, the laws of Québec and governmental integrity to avoid another sponsorship scandal" (p.1 of the Bloc's 2-page English summary of their platform)
- "Pour permettre à la démocratie québécoise d'avancer plutôt que de reculer, le Bloc Québécois s'engage à : . . . - faire le ménage à Ottawa afin que les impôts des Québécoises et des Québécois ne servent plus à enfreindre les règles démocratiques et à nourrir la corruption." (p.20)
- "Le Bloc Québécois continuera à surveiller l'utilisation qui est faite des fonds publics à Ottawa et à dénoncer tous les cas de patronage, de détournement de fonds, de trafic d'influence, de conflit d'intérêts et de fraude." (p.21)
- "Le Bloc Québécois propose que la détermination du budget de fonctionnement des agents du Parlement (Commissaire à l’information du Canada, commissaire à la protection de la vie privée du Canada, commissaire aux langues officielles, directeur général des élections, vérificateur général du Canada) et du commissaire à l'éthique soit effectuée par un comité parlementaire (composé d’un membre par parti politique officiel représenté à la Chambre des communes), appuyé par un panel d'experts et d'un représentant du bureau concerné." (p.26)
- "Le Bloc Québécois présentera un projet de loi afin d'améliorer l'accès à l'information. Ce projet de loi s'appuiera sur le projet de loi présenté par le commissaire à l’information à l’automne 2005. Les éléments suivants nous apparaissent essentiels : - la Loi sur l’accès à l’information devrait couvrir la totalité des sociétés d’État et des fondations, les agents du Parlement, les bureaux de député ainsi que les cabinets des ministres et du premier ministre; - les documents confidentiels du Cabinet devraient être assujettis à la loi et aux révisions du commissaire; - toutes les exceptions devraient être assujetties à la primauté de l’intérêt public; - l’énonciation des rôles et des responsabilités des coordonnateurs de l’accès à l’information; - l’établissement d’incitatifs pour le respect des délais de traitement; - l’élargissement du mandat du commissaire à l’information; - les responsables gouvernementaux doivent être tenus de mettre par écrit leurs décisions, interventions, considérations et analyses; - les fournisseurs de services-conseils doivent être tenus de produire un livrable témoignant de leur travail." (p.29)
- "Le Bloc Québécois s’assurera que le gouvernement modifie les accords de gestion afin de permettre l’application de la nouvelle loi." (p.30)
- "Dans le cadre de la révision de la Loi antiterroriste par le Sous-comité de la sécurité publique et nationale, le Bloc Québécois demandera : - que soit modifié l’article de la Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés (82(2)) qui prévoit que les étrangers puissent être arrêtés sans mandat; - qu’un droit d’appel soit prévu dans la Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés pour permettre à l’individu interdit de territoire d’en appeler de la décision; - que la Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés soit modifiée pour permettre à un avocat ayant obtenu une autorisation de sécurité de défendre les droits de l’accusé lors des audiences sur la preuve secrète." (p.98)
- "Le Bloc Québécois entend s’assurer que le gouvernement ne tentera pas de censurer le rapport du juge O’Connor et compte veiller à ce que le Canada ne recoure plus jamais à la torture en sous-traitance." (p.120)

Conservative Party - A
- "A Conservative government will: - Ensure that all Officers of Parliament are appointed through consultation with all parties in the House of Commons and confirmed through a secret ballot of all Members of Parliament, not just named by the Prime Minister. This appointment process will cover: - The Ethics Commissioner - The Auditor General - The Chief Electoral Officer - The Information Commissioner - The Privacy Commissioner - The Registrar of Lobbyists -- Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for appointments to government boards, commissions, and agencies, to ensure that competitions for posts are widely publicized and fairly conducted." (p.9)
- "A Conservative government will: - Ensure that all government public opinion research is automatically published within six months of the completion of the project, and prohibit verbal-only reports." (p.10)
- "A Conservative government will: - Implement the Information Commissioner’s recommendations for reform of the Access to Information Act. - Give the Information Commissioner the power to order the release of information. - Expand the coverage of the act to all Crown corporations, Officers of Parliament, foundations, and organizations that spend taxpayers’ money or perform public functions. - Subject the exclusion of Cabinet confidences to review by the Information Commissioner. - Oblige public officials to create the records necessary to document their actions and decisions. - Provide a general public interest override for all exemptions, so that the public interest is put before the secrecy of the government. - Ensure that all exemptions from the disclosure of government information are justified only on the basis of the harm or injury that would result from disclosure, not blanket exemption rules. - Ensure that the disclosure requirements of the Access to Information Act cannot be circumvented by secrecy provisions in other federal acts, while respecting the confidentiality of national security and the privacy of personal information." (pp.12-13)

Green Party - B+
- "172. Create a Government Accountability Act to ensure that all those who monitor government are selected at arms length from those they monitor, and to
guarantee transparency and openness for all government activities." (p.29)
- "173. Strengthen the mandates of Independent Officers of Parliament, including the Auditor General and the Information Commissioner." (p.29)

Liberal Party - F
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - B+
- "Improve Canada’s freedom-of-information legislation by: - Extending the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to Crown Corporations and agencies now excluded, including incorporated not-for-profit organizations that receive at least two-thirds of their funding from the federal government. - Making cabinet ministers and their staff subject to the Act. - Removing unreasonable financial and time barriers to access. - Specifying which cabinet records must be disclosed or not disclosed. - Improving public access to third-party contracts and free access to public opinion polling." (p.25)
- "End abuses in the appointment of other public officials by: - Converting more Governor-in-Council (GIC) appointments to normal public service positions. - Establishing an independent advisory committee to develop criteria for GIC appointments and to act as a central clearing house for appointment recommendations to the Prime Minister and responsible Ministers. - Requiring approval by Parliamentary Committees of appointments of senior officers and board members of government agencies and Crown Corporations." (p.25)
 

6. Exposing behind-closed-door communications - Require in a new law that Ministers and senior public officials to disclose their contacts with all lobbyists, whether paid or volunteer lobbyists.  (Go to Government Ethics Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - B-
- "Le Bloc Québécois propose que le registraire des lobbyistes obtienne le statut d'agent du Parlement comme, par exemple, le vérificateur général. Le Bloc Québécois propose également que le registraire ait le mandat et les moyens pour enquêter sur les infractions. De plus, nous proposerons des amendements au régime actuel d'enregistrement des lobbyistes afin d’étendre les activités qui doivent être déclarées, d’obtenir une application plus sérieuse de la période d’exclusion pour un fonctionnaire ou un élu et d’augmenter les peines imposées aux contrevenants." (p.27)

Conservative Party - A-
- "A Conservative government will: - Require ministers and senior government officials to record their contacts with lobbyists." (p.8)

Green Party - B
- "172. Create a Government Accountability Act to ensure that all those who monitor government are selected at arms length from those they monitor, and to
guarantee transparency and openness for all government activities." (p.29)
 - "184. Strengthen the rules of conduct for lobbying. The Auditor General, in auditing these activities will determine if these rules are in the best interest of individual Canadians and make recommendations to the Attorney General where changes are needed so that lobbying does not unduly skew parliamentary decisions." (p.29)

Liberal Party -F
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - I
- Nothing related to proposal in platform
 

7. Strengthening lobbying disclosure and ethics, and the enforcement system - Strengthen the Lobbyists Registration Act and Lobbyists' Code of Conduct disclosure system by closing the loophole that currently allows corporations to hide the number of people involved in lobbying activities, and by requiring lobbyists to disclose their past work with any Canadian or foreign government, political party or candidate, to disclose all their government relations activities (whether paid or volunteer) involving gathering inside information or trying to influence policy-makers (as in the U.S.) and to disclose the amount they spend on lobbying campaigns (as in 33 U.S. states), and; strengthen the ethics and enforcement system by adding specific rules and closing loopholes in the Lobbyists' Code and making it part of the Act, by extending the limitation period for prosecutions of violations of the Act to 10 years, and; by making the Registrar of Lobbyists an Officer of Parliament and giving opposition party leaders a veto over the appointment of the Registrar, by having Parliament (as opposed to Cabinet) approve the Registrar's annual budget (as is currently the process for the Ethics Commissioner), by prohibiting the Registrar from giving secret advice, by ensuring that the Registrar must investigate all complaints (including anonymous complaints), by fully empowering the Registrar to penalize rule-breakers, and by ensuring all Registrar decisions can be reviewed by the courts.  (Go to Government Ethics Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - B+
- "Le Bloc Québécois propose que le registraire des lobbyistes obtienne le statut d'agent du Parlement comme, par exemple, le vérificateur général. Le Bloc Québécois propose également que le registraire ait le mandat et les moyens pour enquêter sur les infractions. De plus, nous proposerons des amendements au régime actuel d'enregistrement des lobbyistes afin d’étendre les activités qui doivent être déclarées, d’obtenir une application plus sérieuse de la période d’exclusion pour un fonctionnaire ou un élu et d’augmenter les peines imposées aux contrevenants." (p.27)

Conservative Party - B+
- "A Conservative government will: - Extend to five years the period during which former ministers, ministerial staffers, and senior public servants cannot lobby government. - Ban success or contingency fee arrangements. - Require ministers and senior government officials to record their contacts with lobbyists. - Make the Registrar of Lobbyists an independent Officer of Parliament. - Give the Registrar of Lobbyists the mandate and resources to investigate violations. - Extend to ten years the period during which violations can be investigated and prosecuted." (p.8)
- "A Conservative government will: - Ensure that all Officers of Parliament are appointed through consultation with all parties in the House of Commons and confirmed through a secret ballot of all Members of Parliament, not just named by the Prime Minister. This appointment process will cover: - The Ethics Commissioner - The Auditor General - The Chief Electoral Officer - The Information Commissioner - The Privacy Commissioner - The Registrar of Lobbyists -- Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for appointments to government boards, commissions, and agencies, to ensure that competitions for posts are widely publicized and fairly conducted." (p.9)

Green Party - B
- "172. Create a Government Accountability Act to ensure that all those who monitor government are selected at arms length from those they monitor, and to guarantee transparency and openness for all government activities." (p.29)
- "173. Strengthen the mandates of Independent Officers of Parliament, including the Auditor General and the Information Commissioner." (p.29)
- "174. Replace the current Ethics Commissioner, who reports privately to the Prime Minister, with an independent Ethics Commission who would report to Parliament appointed through a merit-based process with strong powers to investigate government officials and lobbyists." (p.29)
 - "184. Strengthen the rules of conduct for lobbying. The Auditor General, in auditing these activities will determine if these rules are in the best interest of individual Canadians and make recommendations to the Attorney General where changes are needed so that lobbying does not unduly skew parliamentary decisions." (p.29)

Liberal Party - F
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - B+
- "Take power out of the hands of lobbyists and ensure all decisions are made in the open by: - Obligating lobbyists to file annually a declaration of their political work. - Toughen penalties for violations of the Lobbyists Registration Act. - Ensuring lobbyists’ fees are disclosed and profit-based contingency fees banned. - Prohibiting businesses (including their owners, partners, employees or subsidiaries) from providing consulting advice to a government agency or department while simultaneously engaging in lobbying activity." (p.24)
- "End abuses in the appointment of other public officials by: - Converting more Governor-in-Council (GIC) appointments to normal public service positions. - Establishing an independent advisory committee to develop criteria for GIC appointments and to act as a central clearing house for appointment recommendations to the Prime Minister and responsible Ministers. - Requiring approval by Parliamentary Committees of appointments of senior officers and board members of government agencies and Crown Corporations." (p.25)
 
 

8. Increasing powers of Auditor General - Increase the independence of the Auditor General by requiring approval of appointment from opposition party leaders; increase auditing resources of the Auditor General and having Parliament (as opposed to Cabinet) approve the Auditor General's annual budget (as is currently the process for the federal Ethics Commissioner), and; empower the Auditor General to audit all government institutions, to report on the size of the government deficit/surplus, to make orders for changes to government institutions' spending systems, and to penalize violators of federal Treasury Board spending rules or Auditor General orders.  (Go to Voter Rights Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - B-
- "Le Bloc Québécois propose la création d'un organisme indépendant rattaché au Comité permanent des finances qui aura pour mandat d'établir des prévisions financières réalistes, révisées périodiquement. Ces prévisions serviront de base à un véritable débat sur les priorités budgétaires de la population." (p.16)
- "Le Bloc Québécois propose que la détermination du budget de fonctionnement des agents du Parlement (Commissaire à l’information du Canada, commissaire à la protection de la vie privée du Canada, commissaire aux langues officielles, directeur général des élections, vérificateur général du Canada) et du commissaire à l'éthique soit effectuée par un comité parlementaire (composé d’un membre par parti politique officiel représenté à la Chambre des communes), appuyé par un panel d'experts et d'un représentant du bureau concerné." (p.26)
- "D’ici au démantèlement souhaité des fondations, le Bloc Québécois continuera de dénoncer le camouflage des surplus budgétaires du gouvernement au moyen des fondations. Le Bloc Québécois réclamera que le gouvernement ne puisse plus exempter les transferts aux fondations de la politique du Conseil du Trésor qui interdit que des paiements soient effectués avant que les fonds ne soient nécessaires. Le Bloc Québécois réclamera que les fondations fassent partie du périmètre comptable, ce qui empêcherait le gouvernement de comptabiliser les paiements de transfert comme des charges, même si la majeure partie de ces fonds dorment dans les comptes bancaires des fondations et dans certains cas dans des placements portant intérêt!" (p.30)
- "Le Bloc Québécois demande donc que le registre des armes à feu soit maintenu mais nous demandons, en revanche, que la vérificatrice générale fasse un suivi annuel du programme pour éviter de nouveaux dérapages. Par ailleurs, nous attendons impatiemment le prochain rapport de la vérificatrice qui devrait faire toute la lumière sur les raisons qui ont provoqué le gouffre financier qu’a été le registre des armes à feu depuis sa création." (p.121)

Conservative Party - A
- "A Conservative government will: - Ensure that all Officers of Parliament are appointed through consultation with all parties in the House of Commons and confirmed through a secret ballot of all Members of Parliament, not just named by the Prime Minister. This appointment process will cover: - The Ethics Commissioner - The Auditor General - The Chief Electoral Officer - The Information Commissioner - The Privacy Commissioner - The Registrar of Lobbyists -- Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for appointments to government boards, commissions, and agencies, to ensure that competitions for posts are widely publicized and fairly conducted." (p.9)
- "A Conservative government will: - Ensure that all government public opinion research is automatically published within six months of the completion of the project, and prohibit verbal-only reports. - Ensure that an independent review is conducted of government public opinion research practices discussed in Chapter 5 of the Auditor General’s November 2003 report to determine whether further action, such as a judicial inquiry, is required. - Open up the bidding process for government advertising and public opinion contracts to prevent insider firms from monopolizing government business." (p.10)
- "A Conservative government will: - Review and amend all contracting rules to make the government’s procurement process free from political interference. - Appoint a Procurement Auditor to ensure that all procurements are fair and transparent, and to address complaints from vendors. - Permit smaller vendors and vendors outside of the National Capital Region to receive due consideration for government contracts." (p.10)
- "A Conservative government will: - Create an independent Parliamentary Budget Authority to provide objective analysis directly to Parliament about the state of the nation’s finances and trends in the national economy. - Require government departments and agencies to provide accurate, timely information to the Parliamentary Budget Authority to ensure it has the information it needs to provide accurate analyses to Parliament. - Ensure that government fiscal forecasts are updated quarterly and that they provide complete data for both revenue and spending forecasts." (p.11)
- "A Conservative government will: - Ask the Auditor General to conduct, on an expedited basis, an audit of all federal grant, contribution, and contracting policies, and will commit to following her recommendations. - Increase funding for the Office of the Auditor General to ensure she has the necessary resources to conduct a complete audit of grant and contribution programs and of any such departments, agencies, and Crown corporations as she deems necessary. - Allow the Auditor General to “follow the money” to end recipients by providing her with the statutory authority to conduct audits of the records, documents, and accounts of any individual, institution, or company that receives grants, contributions, or transfers under an agreement with the Government of Canada. - Ensure that all granting programs are reviewed every five years. - Strengthen enforcement of government financial guidelines, and introduce new Criminal Code penalties for fraud involving the misuse of taxpayers’ money." (pp.11-12)
- "A Conservative government will: - Give the Comptroller General the overall authority for the internal audit function in each government department. - Designate the deputy minister of each government department or agency as the Accounting Officer for that department. The deputy will be responsible to Parliament for the departmental spending and administrative practices of his or her department. - Require that, in the event of a disagreement between a minister and deputy minister on a matter of administration, the minister must provide written instruction to the deputy minister and notify the Auditor General and Comptroller General of the disagreement." (p.13)
- "Protect the integrity of the CPP investment fund to stop politicians from raiding it to balance the budget or pay for other political projects." (p.32)
- "Increase the power of Parliament and parliamentary committees to review the spending estimates of departments and hold ministers to account." (p.44)

Green Party - A-
- "172. Create a Government Accountability Act to ensure that all those who monitor government are selected at arms length from those they monitor, and to guarantee transparency and openness for all government activities." (p.29)
- "173. Strengthen the mandates of Independent Officers of Parliament, including the Auditor General and the Information Commissioner." (p.29)
- "178. Provide parliamentarians with independent regulatory audits on the effectiveness of government regulations in meeting their stated public purposes." (p.29)
- "180. Make service improvements a higher priority for all agencies and departments, with systematic citizen feedback and a schedule for periodic program review." (p.29)
- "182. Require long-term public departmental service plans to report on government program purposes, costs, reforms and performance." (p.29)
- "195. Establish a new Parliamentary Budget Office to provide independent public estimates of government revenues and expenditures. Simplify reporting in order to identify how government initiates new policies, the creation of budgets and the design of programs through to the actual results achieved." (p.31)

Liberal Party - D
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- "A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - C+
- "End abuses in the appointment of other public officials by: - Converting more Governor-in-Council (GIC) appointments to normal public service positions. - Establishing an independent advisory committee to develop criteria for GIC appointments and to act as a central clearing house for appointment recommendations to the Prime Minister and responsible Ministers. - Requiring approval by Parliamentary Committees of appointments of senior officers and board members of government agencies and Crown Corporations." (p.25)
 

9. Restricting government advertising - Empower a government watchdog agency to preview and prohibit government advertising that promotes the ruling party, especially leading up to an election (similar to the restrictions in Manitoba and Saskatchewan).  (Go to Government Ethics Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - C
- "Le Bloc Québécois s'engage à veiller scrupuleusement et au respect des règles démocratiques par le gouvernement fédéral." (p.10)
- "Making sure that the federal government respects the rules of democracy, the laws of Québec and governmental integrity to avoid another sponsorship scandal" (p.1 of the Bloc's 2-page English summary of their platform)
- "Pour permettre à la démocratie québécoise d'avancer plutôt que de reculer, le Bloc Québécois s'engage à : . . . - faire le ménage à Ottawa afin que les impôts des Québécoises et des Québécois ne servent plus à enfreindre les règles démocratiques et à nourrir la corruption." (p.20)
- "Le Bloc Québécois continuera à surveiller l'utilisation qui est faite des fonds publics à Ottawa et à dénoncer tous les cas de patronage, de détournement de fonds, de trafic d'influence, de conflit d'intérêts et de fraude." (p.21)

Conservative Party - D+
- "A Conservative government will: - Ensure that all government public opinion research is automatically published within six months of the completion of the project, and prohibit verbal-only reports. - Ensure that an independent review is conducted of government public opinion research practices discussed in Chapter 5 of the Auditor General’s November 2003 report to determine whether further action, such as a judicial inquiry, is required. - Open up the bidding process for government advertising and public opinion contracts to prevent insider firms from monopolizing government business." (p.10)
 - "Increase the power of Parliament and parliamentary committees to review the spending estimates of departments and hold ministers to account." (p.44)

Green Party - A-
- "176. Institute a code of conduct and independent complaints process to ensure that tax dollars are not used for pre-election partisan purposes." (p.29)

Liberal Party - I
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- "A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - I
- Nothing related to proposal in platform
 
 

10. Increasing meaningful public consultation - Pass a law requiring all government departments and institutions to use consultation processes that provide meaningful opportunities for citizen participation, especially concerning decisions that affect the lives of all Canadians.  (Go to Voter Rights Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - C-
- "Le Bloc Québécois exigera un débat portant sur les accords internationaux en cours de négociation avant la ratification de tels accords." (p.19)
- "Pour permettre à la démocratie québécoise d'avancer plutôt que de reculer, le Bloc Québécois s'engage à : - exiger pour les parlementaires le droit de se prononcer par un vote sur tout accord international d'importance conclu par le gouvernement fédéral . . ." (p.20)
- "Afin d’amorcer dès maintenant un virage important en ce qui a trait à l’avenir du Saint-Laurent, le Bloc Québécois va mettre de l’avant les positions suivantes au cours des prochains mois : - modifier la Loi maritime du Canada afin d’obliger les administrations portuaires à consulter les citoyens et les élus municipaux concernant les aménagements immobiliers et l’accès public . . ." (p.137)
- "Le Bloc Québécois reviendra à la charge et présentera à nouveau un projet de loi pour démocratiser le processus d’adoption des accords internationaux." (p.188)

Conservative Party - C-
- "Appoint a Seniors Council comprised of seniors and representatives of seniors’ organizations to advise the minister responsible for seniors on issues of national importance." (p.32)
- "A Conservative government will: - Hold a truly free vote on the definition of marriage in the next session of Parliament. If the resolution is passed, the government will introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage while respecting existing same-sex marriages." (p.33)
 - "Make all votes in Parliament, except the budget and main estimates, “free votes” for ordinary Members of Parliament." (p.44)
- "Increase the power of Parliament and parliamentary committees to review the spending estimates of departments and hold ministers to account." (p.44)
- "Place international treaties before Parliament for ratification." (p.45)

Green Party - F
- "185. Create a broad-based, result-driven public consultation process to determine the form of proportional representation that best serves Canadians for the next federal election. 186. Support the legislative changes required to introduce the proportional representation electoral system recommended by the public consultation." (p.30)

Liberal Party - F
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- "A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - C+
- "Keep governments accountable for their promises and obligations by appointing a Parliamentary Commissioner to use international and mutually-acceptable standards as the basis for regular public report cards on government conduct. The Commissioner will receive and investigate complaints about government actions or omissions, negotiate their resolution, and report to Parliament when recommendations are not accepted and implemented." (p.22)
 

11. Restricting power of Cabinet to make appointments - Require approval by opposition party leaders for the approximately 3,000 judicial, agency, board, commission and tribunal appointments currently made by the Prime Minister (including the board and President of the CBC), especially for appointees to senior and law enforcement positions, after a merit-based nomination process.  (Go to Voter Rights Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - B+
- "Le Bloc Québécois considère qu'un processus formel d'examen des nominations des hauts fonctionnaires et des dirigeants de sociétés d'État doit être une priorité du nouveau gouvernement. Les comités parlementaires doivent être au cœur du processus décisionnel et aucune nomination ne devrait être effectuée contre l'avis des comités." (p.31)
- "Le Bloc Québécois continuera de réclamer une réforme du processus de nomination des juges de la Cour suprême qui prévoit que chaque poste québécois revienne à une personne proposée par le gouvernement du Québec." (p.32)
- "Le Bloc Québécois continuera de travailler à dépolitiser le processus de nomination des juges." (p.33)

Conservative Party - B+
- "A Conservative government will: - Ensure that all Officers of Parliament are appointed through consultation with all parties in the House of Commons and confirmed through a secret ballot of all Members of Parliament, not just named by the Prime Minister. This appointment process will cover: - The Ethics Commissioner - The Auditor General - The Chief Electoral Officer - The Information Commissioner - The Privacy Commissioner - The Registrar of Lobbyists -- Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for appointments to government boards, commissions, and agencies, to ensure that competitions for posts are widely publicized and fairly conducted. -- Prevent ministerial aides and other political appointees receiving favoured treatment when applying for public service positions." (p.9)

Green Party - A-
- "91. Introduce laws guaranteeing a proportion of seats for women in government appointed bodies." (p.18)
- "172. Create a Government Accountability Act to ensure that all those who monitor government are selected at arms length from those they monitor, and to guarantee transparency and openness for all government activities." (p.29)
- "181. Reinforce the political independence of public sector employees - especially scientists and professionals with responsibility for such areas as fisheries science and drug licensing." (p.29)
- "183. Reform the appointments system to discourage patronage." (p.29)

Liberal Party - F
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- "A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - A-
- "Make appointments on merit, not on political connections." (p.24)
- "Ensure that prior to the appointment of Supreme Court Judges, an independent committee would provide the House of Commons Justice Committee with criteria for examination and debate. Judicial appointments would be measured against public criteria." (p.25)
- "End abuses in the appointment of other public officials by: - Converting more Governor-in-Council (GIC) appointments to normal public service positions. - Establishing an independent advisory committee to develop criteria for GIC appointments and to act as a central clearing house for appointment recommendations to the Prime Minister and responsible Ministers. - Requiring approval by Parliamentary Committees of appointments of senior officers and board members of government agencies and Crown Corporations." (p.25)
 

12. Making the Senate democratic or abolish it - Attempt to reach an agreement with provincial governments (as required by the Constitution) to either abolish the Senate or reform the Senate (with a safeguard that Senate powers will not be increased unless senators are elected and their overall accountability increased).  (Go to Voter Rights Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - B
- "Le Bloc Québécois considère que le Sénat est une institution non démocratique, coûteuse et désuète." (p.32)

Conservative Party - A
- "A Conservative government will: - Begin reform of the Senate by creating a national process for choosing elected Senators from each province and territory. - Propose further reforms to make the Senate an effective, independent, and democratically elected body that equitably represents all regions." (p.44)

Green Party - I
- Nothing related to proposal in platform

Liberal Party - I
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- "A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - D
- Nothing related to proposal in platform, but NDP's longstanding position has been to abolish the Senate
 

13. Ensuring free, fair and representative elections - Change the current voting law and system so that nomination and party leadership races are regulated by Elections Canada (including limiting spending on campaigns for party leadership), so that Elections Canada appoints returning officers to ensure a fair voting decisions in every riding, so that Elections Canada determines which parties can participate in election debates based upon merit criteria, so that voters are allowed to refuse their ballot (ie. vote for "none of the above", as in Ontario), and to provide a more equal number of voters in every riding, and a more accurate representation in Parliament of the actual voter support for each political party (with a safeguard to ensure that a party with low-level, narrow-base support does not have a disproportionately high level of power in Parliament).  (Go to Voter Rights Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - B-
- "Le Bloc Québécois déposera à nouveau un projet de loi qui accordera au directeur général des élections du Canada des pouvoirs semblables à ceux que détient son homologue du Québec. Le directeur général des élections du Canada pourra ainsi nommer lui-même les directeurs du scrutin, une fois qu'ils auront démontré leur compétence, leur mérite et leur aptitude à remplir cette fonction." (p.27)

Conservative Party - B
- "A Conservative government will: - Ensure that all Officers of Parliament are appointed through consultation with all parties in the House of Commons and confirmed through a secret ballot of all Members of Parliament, not just named by the Prime Minister. This appointment process will cover: - The Ethics Commissioner - The Auditor General - The Chief Electoral Officer - The Information Commissioner - The Privacy Commissioner - The Registrar of Lobbyists -- Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for appointments to government boards, commissions, and agencies, to ensure that competitions for posts are widely publicized and fairly conducted." (p.9)
- "A Conservative government will: - Restore representation by population for Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta in the House of Commons while protecting the seat counts of smaller provinces. - Introduce legislation modeled on the BC and Ontario laws requiring fixed election dates every four years, except when a government loses the confidence of the House (in which case an election would be held immediately, and the subsequent election would follow four years later)." (p.44)
- "A Conservative government will: - Ensure that party nomination and leadership races are conducted in a fair, transparent, and democratic manner. - Prevent party leaders from appointing candidates without the democratic consent of local electoral district associations." (p.44)

Green Party - B+
- "185. Create a broad-based, result-driven public consultation process to determine the form of proportional representation that best serves Canadians for the next federal election. 186. Support the legislative changes required to introduce the proportional representation electoral system recommended by the public consultation." (p.30)
- "187. Introduce fixed election dates permitting political stability and fair elections." (p.30)
- "188. Require a mandatory series of open leaders' debates during an election organized by an independent agency such as Elections Canada." (p.30)
- "190. Reduce the mandatory $1,000 candidate deposit to encourage more Canadians to participate in the democratic system." (p.30)
- "191. Lower the voting age to seventeen." (p.30)

Liberal Party - I
- "A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - B
- "Pass a new Fixed Elections Act to end the power of the governing party to control election timing by establishing fixed election dates." (p.26)
- "Pass a new Leadership Accountability Act to shed the bright light of accountability onto party leadership contests. Jack Layton and the NDP would pass laws to put strict spending caps on party leadership contests to keep them fair, democratic and free of corruption." (p.26)
- "Introduce an Every Vote Counts Act to change Canada’s federal electoral system to a mixed electoral system that combines constituency-based MPs with proportional representation." (p.26)
 

14. Facilitating citizen watchdog groups over government - Require federal government institutions to enclose one-page pamphlets periodically in their mailings to citizens inviting citizens to join citizen-funded and directed groups to represent citizen interests in policy-making and enforcement processes of key government departments (for example, on ethics, spending, and health care) as has been proposed in the U.S. and recommended for Canadian banks and other financial institutions in 1998 by a federal task force, a House of Commons Committee, and a Senate Committee.  (Go to Citizen Association Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - I
- Nothing related to proposal in platform

Conservative Party - F
- "Appoint a Seniors Council comprised of seniors and representatives of seniors’ organizations to advise the minister responsible for seniors on issues of national importance." (p.32)

Green Party - F
- "94. Ensure adequate funding for national organizations such as National Action Committee and other bodies committed to improving the status of women." (p.18)

Liberal Party - I
- Nothing related to proposal in platform

New Democrat Party - F
- "Keep governments accountable for their promises and obligations by appointing a Parliamentary Commissioner to use international and mutually-acceptable standards as the basis for regular public report cards on government conduct. The Commissioner will receive and investigate complaints about government actions or omissions, negotiate their resolution, and report to Parliament when recommendations are not accepted and implemented." (p.22)
 

15. Ensuring effective whistleblower protection - Require everyone to report any violation of any law, regulation, policy, code, guideline or rule, and give all watchdog agencies over government (for example: Auditor General, Information Commissioner, Privacy Commissioner, Public Service Commission, the four ethics watchdogs, Security and Intelligence Review Committee, the National Health Council) full powers to investigate allegations of violations, to penalize violators, to protect anyone who reports a violation (so-called "whistleblowers") from retaliation, to reward whistleblowers whose allegations are proven to be true, and to ensure a right to appeal to the courts.  (Go to Government Ethics Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - A-
- "Le Bloc Québécois proposera d’améliorer le système de dénonciation des actes répréhensibles et la protection de dénonciateurs dans le secteur public en : - réclamant que le nouveau commissaire soit approuvé par les chefs de l’opposition; - s’assurant que le gouvernement n’ait pas la possibilité d’exclure les sociétés d'État, les fondations et tout autre organisme fédéral de l'application de la loi; - en accordant au commissaire plus de latitude afin de corriger le tort imposé aux dénonciateurs; - facilitant aux dénonciateurs l’accès aux tribunaux; - s’assurant que la nouvelle loi ne serve pas de prétexte au gouvernement pour restreindre le droit à l’accès à l’information." (p.28)
- "Le Bloc Québécois demande que le processus de grief soit modifié de façon à répondre adéquatement aux plaintes formulées par les militaires." (p.196)

Conservative Party - A
- "A Conservative government will: - Give the Public Service Integrity Commissioner the power to enforce compliance with the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act. - Ensure that all Canadians who report government wrongdoing are protected, not just public servants. - Remove the government’s ability to exempt Crown corporations and other bodies from the Act. - Require the prompt public disclosure of information revealed by whistleblowers, except where national security or the security of individuals is affected. - Ensure that whistleblowers have access to the courts and that they are provided with adequate legal counsel. - Establish monetary rewards for whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing or save taxpayers dollars." (p.11)

Green Party - B+
- "172. Create a Government Accountability Act to ensure that all those who monitor government are selected at arms length from those they monitor, and to
guarantee transparency and openness for all government activities." (p.29)
- "173. Strengthen the mandates of Independent Officers of Parliament, including the Auditor General and the Information Commissioner." (p.29)
- "175. Support effective whistle-blower protection for public and private sector employees." (p.29)

Liberal Party - D
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- "A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)

New Democrat Party - B+
- "Keep governments accountable for their promises and obligations by appointing a Parliamentary Commissioner to use international and mutually-acceptable standards as the basis for regular public report cards on government conduct. The Commissioner will receive and investigate complaints about government actions or omissions, negotiate their resolution, and report to Parliament when recommendations are not accepted and implemented." (p.22)
- "Pass a new Protection of Whistleblowers Act, applicable to both the private and public sectors that: - Provides legal protection from reprisal for those who disclose wrongdoing internally or externally, including imposing fines and jail sentences against individuals who engage in reprisals. - Establishes a whistleblower officer selected by, and reporting to Parliament who has broad powers of investigation and reporting." (p.25)
 

16. Ensuring loophole free laws and strong penalties for wrongdoers - Close any technical and other loopholes that have been identified in laws, regulations, policies, codes, guidelines and rules that apply to government institutions to help ensure strong enforcement, and increase financial penalties for violations to a level that significantly effects the annual revenues/budget of the people involved and the institution.  (Go to Voter Rights Campaign for details about Democracy Watch's proposals)

Bloc Québécois - B+
- "Le Bloc Québécois s'engage à veiller scrupuleusement et au respect des règles démocratiques par le gouvernement fédéral." (p.10)
- "Making sure that the federal government respects the rules of democracy, the laws of Québec and governmental integrity to avoid another sponsorship scandal" (p.1 of the Bloc's 2-page English summary of their platform)
- "Pour permettre à la démocratie québécoise d'avancer plutôt que de reculer, le Bloc Québécois s'engage à : . . . - faire le ménage à Ottawa afin que les impôts des Québécoises et des Québécois ne servent plus à enfreindre les règles démocratiques et à nourrir la corruption." (p.20)
- "Le Bloc Québécois continuera à surveiller l'utilisation qui est faite des fonds publics à Ottawa et à dénoncer tous les cas de patronage, de détournement de fonds, de trafic d'influence, de conflit d'intérêts et de fraude." (p.21)
- "Le Bloc Québécois continuera de lutter contre les manquements flagrants du ministère de la Défense et du Conseil du Trésor en matière de respect de la Loi sur les langues officielles." (p.93)
- "Le Bloc Québécois dénonce le laxisme du gouvernement fédéral devant la situation du français dans la fonction publique et exige immédiatement du gouvernement que les candidats à un poste désigné bilingue répondent, et ce dès leur embauche, aux exigences linguistiques du poste convoité." (p.93)
- "Le Bloc Québécois est déterminé à obtenir du gouvernement fédéral une amélioration notable de l’efficacité de Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada dans le traitement des demandes de réfugiés, sans sacrifier la qualité du traitement de ces demandes, et un transfert supplémentaire de 100 millions $ par année pour soutenir les efforts du Québec." (p.96)
- "Le Bloc Québécois entend redoubler sa vigilance quant aux procédures d’accueil des réfugiés au Canada pour protéger leurs droits et accroître leur nombre. Le Bloc Québécois s’assurera que le gouvernement fédéral suive les recommandations du Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés qui participera à la révision périodique de l’Entente sur les pays tiers sûrs." (p.97)
- "Le Bloc Québécois exige la mise en place de la Section d’appel des réfugiés, tel que le prévoyait la Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés adoptée en juin 2002." (p.97)
- "Dans le cadre de la révision de la Loi antiterroriste par le Sous-comité de la sécurité publique et nationale, le Bloc Québécois demandera : - que soit modifié l’article de la Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés (82(2)) qui prévoit que les étrangers puissent être arrêtés sans mandat; - qu’un droit d’appel soit prévu dans la Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés pour permettre à l’individu interdit de territoire d’en appeler de la décision; - que la Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés soit modifiée pour permettre à un avocat ayant obtenu une autorisation de sécurité de défendre les droits de l’accusé lors des audiences sur la preuve secrète." (p.98)
- "Le Bloc Québécois s’engage à talonner le gouvernement pour qu’il corrige sans délai l’injustice inacceptable dont sont victimes les personnes régies par la Loi sur les Indiens." (p.106)
- "Le Bloc Québécois exige que le gouvernement fédéral rembourse la caisse d’assurance-emploi. Pour ce faire, il propose un plan de remboursement de la caisse, de façon à bonifier le régime et à assurer une réserve raisonnable en cas de crise économique." (p,113)
- "Le Bloc Québécois exige la création d’une caisse autonome d’assurance-emploi et d’une commission indépendante de l’assurance-emploi responsable, notamment, de la fixation du taux de cotisation." (p.113)
- "Le Bloc Québécois s’engage à déposer de nouveau un projet de loi qui vient en aide aux victimes de harcèlement psychologique qui travaillent à l’intérieur de la fonction publique et celles qui sont régies par le Code canadien du travail." (p.116)
- "Le Bloc Québécois demande que soit remplacer le modèle existant d’équité salariale reposant sur des plaintes par une nouvelle loi distincte et proactive en matière d’équité salariale qui ferait de l’équité salariale un droit fondamental de la personne conformément à ce qui existe au Québec." (p.116)
- "Le Bloc Québécois s’engage à faire en sorte que dans toute mesure législative qui touche le terrorisme, l’équilibre entre sécurité et liberté soit respecté et il demande la création d’un poste de commissaire indépendant chargé de la surveillance de l’application de toute loi relative au terrorisme." (p.119)
- "Le Bloc Québécois entend s’assurer que le gouvernement ne tentera pas de censurer le rapport du juge O’Connor et compte veiller à ce que le Canada ne recoure plus jamais à la torture en sous-traitance." (p.120)
- "Le Bloc Québécois exhorte le gouvernement fédéral à rembourser les 46,2 milliards $ qu'il a pillés dans la caisse d'assurance-emploi pour bonifier le régime, à mettre fin au « trou noir » qui affecte les travailleurs saisonniers et à abolir les conditions discriminatoires imposées aux jeunes travailleurs." (p.145)
- "Ottawa doit rapidement entrer en discussions avec le Québec pour décentraliser tout le système d'inspection des aliments et scinder le Canada en plusieurs régions sanitaires. Une telle régionalisation des pratiques sanitaires permettrait aux producteurs québécois d'être épargnés par une semblable crise dans l'avenir et permettrait au Québec de faire valoir l'excellence de ses pratiques sanitaires." (p.168)
- "Le Bloc Québécois s’engage de plus à déposer un projet de loi prévoyant un soutien financier pour les entreprises victimes de harcèlement à visée protectionniste dans l'avenir." (p.170)
- "Pour le Bloc Québécois, les droits américains, jugés illégaux par les tribunaux de l’ALÉNA, doivent être abolis et intégralement remboursés. Cette question n’est pas négociable." (p.171)
 - "Le Bloc Québécois propose que le gouvernement fédéral conditionne toute aide bilatérale au respect des droits fondamentaux de la personne. Il doit aussi s’assurer que les fonds ne soient pas détournés de leur objectif initial." (p.184)
- "Le Bloc Québécois propose que le gouvernement fédéral fasse obligation à tous ses organismes et ministères de ne servir que du café équitable, là où il en a la possibilité." (p.193)
- "Le Bloc Québécois demande que le processus de grief soit modifié de façon à répondre adéquatement aux plaintes formulées par les militaires." (p.196)
- "À la suite de pressions, le gouvernement fédéral a mis en place un processus d’enquête [à respect d'Agent Orange]. Cependant, le Bloc Québécois s’assurera que les victimes militaires et civiles soient rapidement et équitablement compensées." (p.197)

Conservative Party - B+
- "A Conservative government will: - Create the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, with the responsibility to conduct prosecutions under federal jurisdiction. - Give the Director of Public Prosecutions the power to make binding and final decisions to prosecute or not unless the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General instructs the Director to do otherwise by means of public written notice. - Appoint the Director of Public Prosecutions from among qualified candidates recommended by a committee which will include representatives of the opposition parties in Parliament. - Give the Director of Public Prosecutions the mandate to review recent decisions on prosecutions in the sponsorship scandal and other matters which have been the subject of investigation by the Auditor General and the Ethics Counsellor or Commissioner. - Structure the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in accordance with best practices in other jurisdictions such as British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Australia, and the United Kingdom. several times to force the government to open its windows." (p.13)
- "Ensure that regional development agencies are depoliticized and fully accountable to Parliament and Canadians." (p.18)
- "A Conservative government will: - Demand that the U.S. government play by the rules on softwood lumber. The U.S. must abide by the NAFTA ruling on softwood lumber, repeal the Byrd Amendment, and return the more than $5 billion in illegal softwood lumber tariffs to Canadian producers. - Provide real help for Canadian workers and businesses coping with illegal American trade actions. The government of Canada will guarantee repayment of illegally imposed softwood lumber tariffs through Export Development Canada. This will ensure that Canadian forest companies can continue to operate without penalty. We will continue to help pay the legal bills of Canadian businesses that are fighting American softwood lumber tariffs. We will support displaced forestry workers" (p.19)
- "A Conservative government will: - Establish, at the earliest possible time, a comprehensive, independent judicial inquiry into the investigation of the Air India bombing of June 23, 1985." (p.26)
- "Create a National Security Review Committee to ensure effective oversight and a greater degree of accountability and transparency regarding Canada’s national security efforts." (p.26)
 - "A Conservative government will: - Push ahead with implementing the September 2004 federal-provincial Health Accord. We will ensure that: - Evidence-based benchmarks for medically acceptable wait times, starting with cancer, heart, diagnostic imaging procedures, joint replacements, and sight restoration are established as soon as possible, as promised in the Health Accord. - Patient Wait-time reduction targets for priority procedures identified by provinces are established by the end of 2006. - Canadians get regular reports on progress towards meeting these wait-time targets, as promised in the Health Accord. . . . - Work with the provinces to develop a Patient Wait Times Guarantee to ensure that all Canadians receive essential medical treatment within clinically acceptable waiting times, or can be treated in another jurisdiction, as required by the Supreme Court of Canada’s Chaoulli decision and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." (p.30)
- "Immediately compensate all individuals who contracted hepatitis C from tainted blood, as recommended by the Krever Inquiry." (p.31)
- "Protect the integrity of the CPP investment fund to stop politicians from raiding it to balance the budget or pay for other political projects." (p.32)
- "Replace the Indian Act (and related legislation) with a modern legislative framework which provides for the devolution of full legal and democratic responsibility to aboriginal Canadians for their own affairs within the Constitution, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. - Pursue settlement of all outstanding “comprehensive claims” within a clear framework that balances the rights of aboriginal claimants with those of Canada. - Adopt measures to resolve the existing backlog of “specific” claims so as to provide justice for aboriginal claimants, together with certainty for government, industry, and non-aboriginal Canadians. - Implement all of the recommendations of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development contained in its fourth report on Resolving Indian Residential School Claims, to expedite the settlement of claims and save money. - Recognize the contributions of Aboriginal veterans, and redress 60 years of inequity by implementing the resolution of the House of Commons to acknowledge the historic inequality of treatment and compensation for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit war veterans, and take action immediately to give real compensation to these veterans in a way that truly respects their service and sacrifice. Canada has long welcomed hard-working, law-abiding men and women seeking freedom, democracy, and opportunity for themselves and their families." (pp.38-39)
- "A Conservative government will: - Support the creation of practical intergovernmental mechanisms to facilitate provincial involvement in areas of federal jurisdiction where provincial jurisdiction is affected, and enshrine these practices in a Charter of Open Federalism. We will work with the provinces in areas such as culture, environment, and trade, within the context of the Constitution." (p.42)
- "A Conservative government will: - Work with the provinces in order to achieve a long-term agreement which would address the issue of fiscal imbalance in a permanent fashion. - Ensure that any new shared-cost programs in areas of provincial/territorial responsibility have the consent of the majority of provinces to proceed, and that provinces should be given the right to opt out of the federal program with compensation, so long as the province offers a similar program with similar accountability structures." (p.43)
 - "A Conservative government will: - Propose an amendment to the Constitution to include the right to own property, as well as guarantee that no person shall be deprived of their just right without the due process of law and full, just, and timely compensation. - Enact legislation to ensure that full, just, and timely compensation will be paid to all persons who are deprived of personal or private property as a result of any federal government initiative, policy, process, regulation, or legislation." (p.43)
 - "A Conservative government will: - Advance Canada’s interests through foreign aid, while at the same time holding those agencies involved in this area accountable for its distribution and results. - Make Parliament responsible for exercising oversight over the conduct of Canadian foreign policy and the commitment of Canadian Forces to foreign operations. - Place international treaties before Parliament for ratification." (p.45)
- "Treat Canada’s veterans with the respect and honour that they deserve, and ensure better responsiveness to veterans with a Veterans’ Bill of Rights and a Veterans’ Ombudsman." (p.45)
- "A Conservative government will: - Defend Canada’s primary producers against repeated and unfounded international trade challenges." (p.46)

Green Party - B
- "76. Launch and maintain new processes driven by Aboriginal priorities and legal entitlements, to address governance issues, a just and fair share of lands and resources, legislative inconsistencies, policy inequities, reconciliation and - according to the wishes of First Nations - the phased-out elimination of the Indian Act." (p.15)
- "86. Implement full pay equity for women employed in the federal sector. 87. Sign the UN's global initiative for the elimination of discrimination and violence against women, and review Canada's performance to ensure it becomes and remains a world leader in fighting discrimination and violence against women." (p.17)
 - "100. Conduct a full and open review of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Public Safety Act to eliminate security certificates and the release of the five people detained under them unless formal charges are brought against them.102. Open an investigation into allegations by the United Nations Human Rights Committee of Canadian officials cooperating with foreign agencies known to use torture." (p.19)
- "121. Use the full force of the Canada Health Act, federal spending power and the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to oppose any steps that open the way to two-tier health care in Canada." (p.23)
- "180. Make service improvements a higher priority for all agencies and departments, with systematic citizen feedback and a schedule for periodic program review." (p.29)
- "182. Require long-term public departmental service plans to report on government program purposes, costs, reforms and performance." (p.29)
- "198. Transfer federal tax points to sustain specific social services such as health care on strict provincial guarantees that these funds will be allocated to such services and that such funds will be used to reduce the dependency provincial governments have developed to revenue from gambling." (p.32)

Liberal Party - C
- "A Liberal government will work with the provinces, territories and health care practitioners to implement a Canada Health Care Guarantee" (p. 12, with details on pp.13-14)
- Protecting Canada’s universal public health care system: Liberals are committed to high quality, publicly-funded health care for all medically-necessary treatments - no extra billing; no queuejumping; no “second-tier” standard of care in the public system. To ensure these objectives are met, a Liberal government will implement a Public Health Care Protection Initiative. As a result, the government will: - Consider it a violation of the Canada Health Act if a physician provides the same medically-necessary services to some patients on a privately paid basis and others on a publicly-insured (medicare) basis, if such “dual practice” undermines access to publicly-insured services. - Ensure that any new dedicated federal funding for health care must be spent within the public system, if private involvement threatens the integrity of the single-payer (medicare) system. - Request that the Health Council of Canada and the Canada Institute for Health Information (CIHI) report on the interface between public and private delivery of health care in Canada and also on the allocation by provinces and territories of health transfers from the federal government. - Continue to enforce the compliance provisions of the Canada Health Act which entitle the federal government to withhold transfer payments to a province or territory provided there is recourse first to the Dispute Avoidance and Resolution procedure established formally in 2004. (pp.17-18)
- "Under these agreements, provinces will invest federal funds in regulated early learning and child care programs for children under six. Each province will nonetheless have the flexibility to implement programs that address their specific needs and objectives, so long as they are consistent with the QUAD principles [Quality, Universally inclusive, Accessible and Developmental]. . . . - A National Quality Framework will be developed as the basis for guidelines and evidence-based benchmarks for future programming." (pp.28-29)
- "A Paul Martin government will immediately submit Judge Gomery’s second report to a Parliamentary Committee for study and advice to the government and to Parliament." (p.77)
- "A Liberal government will continue to explore the underpinnings of democratic renewal" (p.77)
- "In the coming year, a Liberal government will engage in dialogue with Canadians to define the values and principles they wish to see reflected in their democratic institutions." (p.77)
- "178. Provide parliamentarians with independent regulatory audits on the effectiveness of government regulations in meeting their stated public purposes." (p.29)

New Democrat Party - A-
- "Jack Layton and the NDP will not permit the dismantling of Canada’s single-payer medicare system. We will oppose the privatization of Canada’s health system. - Public funds to support the public system: In the next Parliament, we will introduce tough new rules in the legislation and agreements that govern federal transfers to provinces for health care. We will make stable, long-term federal transfers for health care contingent on a commitment from provinces and territories that no federal money, directly or indirectly, will be used to subsidize a new, separate, profit-making private insurance system covering medically necessary services. - Ending cross-subsidization: We will make stable, long-term federal transfers for health care contingent on no federal money being used to cover the salaries or costs of doctors and other medical personnel involved in a new, separate, profit-making private insurance system. - Accountable and enforced: These tough new rules, along with all provisions of the Canada Health Act, will be monitored and enforced." (p.11)
- "Recognizing Canada’s responsibilities for residential schools abuse by quickly implementing lump-sum compensation, a Truth and Reconciliation process and an apology by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons. Jack Layton and the NDP will stop the federal government from wasting millions of dollars challenging legitimate claims and painting victims as liars." (p.20)
- "Accepting responsibility for efficient resolution of claims by respecting the 1998 Joint Task Force report that recommends an independent, effective system to resolve land claim disputes. Jack Layton and the NDP will establish an Independent Claims Commission to decide on specific claims and a comprehensive claims policy that respects Treaty-based settlements, so that Canada can meet its legal obligations." (p.20)
- "Respecting implementation of the inherent right to self-governance by creating legal space and recognition for the legitimacy and jurisdiction of indigenous governments with a properly compensated and trained public service and by promoting supporting systems of government that have the support of communities and nations, including their instruments for accountability, recourse to appeal, human rights, audits, matrimonial property and encouraging the restoration of civil society and community-based non-governmental activity." (p.22)
- "Keep governments accountable for their promises and obligations by appointing a Parliamentary Commissioner to use international and mutually-acceptable standards as the basis for regular public report cards on government conduct. The Commissioner will receive and investigate complaints about government actions or omissions, negotiate their resolution, and report to Parliament when recommendations are not accepted and implemented." (p.22)
- "Pass a new Fixed Elections Act to end the power of the governing party to control election timing by establishing fixed election dates." (p.26)
- "Transforming NAFTA in order to achieve a fair trade policy. Deeper economic integration with the United States is not working for Canada. In light of recent and on-going trade disputes, the time has come for the parties to NAFTA to take a new look at the treaty, and to find ways to make it work in the cause of fair trade. We favour elimination of Chapter 11 (which, in our view, unreasonably limits Canada’s sovereignty in regulating investment). We also favour changes to address the serious shortcomings of the treaty provisions on energy and water. These issues require a broad consensus ? and there is a striking consensus emerging about them across Canada. To build on this growing consensus, we favour a public review of every aspect of the impact of NAFTA on the Canadian
economy and Canadian public policy including tariffs, dispute resolution, energy, corporate regulation and ownership and culture." (p.28)
- "Strengthen Canada’s homegrown film and television production by: - Reviewing and restructuring the CRTC to avoid the mixed mandates and conflicts of interest that undermine the role of the commission in promoting and protecting Canadian cultural industries." (p.32)
- "Enact legislation to establish an independent Children’s Commissioner to monitor, advocate and recommend on behalf of the rights and welfare of Canada’s children. The Children’s Commissioner shall report annually to Parliament." (p.33)
- "Issue a full apology to Chinese Canadians for the Chinese head tax and the Chinese Exclusion Act and establish compensation to individuals and their families beginning, on an urgent basis, with those still living." (p.36)
- "Restructure the immigration appeal process to remove the discretionary power of the minister to settle final appeals and to substitute for that power an appeal to a politically independent, expert national appeal panel, and implement the provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to establish the Refugee Appeal Division." (p.36)
- "Protecting pensions by: - Implementing a pension benefits insurance system for employees under federal jurisdiction, and invite provincial and territorial governments to join the system. - Working to end the clawback of military and RCMP pensions when pensioners receive CPP benefits." (p.37)
- "Fighting to enact the NDP’s Seniors Charter we introduced in Parliament in the fall of 2005 and to create a minister for seniors." (p.38)
- "Restoring fairness to equalization with a level playing field for all Canadians within the equalization system. . . .  For the long term, we favour working with provincial and territorial governments to develop a consistent rules-based system of fiscal equalization designed to equalize basic services rather than simply revenue-raising capacity." (p.42)
- "Speed up the identification, location and cleanup of all DND chemical dumpsites (both on land and at sea)." (p.44)
- "Speed up the investigation and compensation of military and civilian personnel exposed to Agent Orange/Agent Purple." (p.44)
- "Scrap the draconian Anti-Terrorism Act, written by Liberals and opposed by the NDP, which has already impeded media freedom in Canada. We will replace it with legislation that respects civil liberties, ethnic communities and freedom of the press." (p.45)
- "Introduce legislation to ban racial profiling from federal departments and jurisdictions." (p.45)
- "Respect the right of those accused of a crime to know the evidence against them by banning the use of security certificates." (p.45)