Monday, February 6, 2006

OTTAWA - Today, Democracy Watch announced that it will file complaints with the federal Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro about the following situations:

• the failure of Liberal Cabinet members to be honest about the situation of David Dingwall ending his term as President of the Royal Canadian Mint, and failing to disclose ruling on the payment amount for Mr. Dingwall before election day;
• David Emerson running as a Liberal candidate in the last election and post-election, while still a Liberal Cabinet minister, deciding to accept new Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s offer to switch to the Conservatives and receive a post in the new Cabinet.

“The actions and statements of Liberal Cabinet ministers in the David Dingwall situation raise serious questions about violations of the Cabinet ethics rules that require ministers to act with honesty and to maintain the highest ethical standards in a way that enhances the public’s confidence in the integrity of the federal government,” said Duff Conacher, Coordinator of Democracy Watch.

Democracy Watch also questioned the following Cabinet appointments made by Stephen Harper:

• the appointment of Michael Fortier to the Senate and as Minister of Public Works and Government Services, even though he is unelected and a Conservative party organizer, and;
• the appointment of Gordon O’Connor as Minister of Defence even though he was a lobbyist for defence industry companies up until February 23, 2004.