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Government Ethics Campaign - 2007
Democracy Watch released the following documents in 2007 in
its Government
Ethics Campaign
(in reverse chronological order):
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Former
federal Conservative Party adviser lobbies federal Conservative
government
for Taser International (Canoe.ca (and 12 other media websites)
publishing
Canadian Press (CP) wire article, December 14, 2007)
- REPORT CARD: Federal
Conservatives'
So-Called "Federal Accountability Act" and Related Decisions Earn a "D"
Grade For Only Partially Increasing Accountability (December 12,
2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Conflict
of interest laws across Canada do not prevent government Cabinet
ministers
from making decisions in which they have a financial interest (Edmonton
Sun, December 12, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Alberta's
new lobbying law, and a bill changing the province's conflict of
interest
law, are full of loopholes (Edmonton Sun, December 6, 2007) -- To
see
Democracy Watch's analysis of Bill 1, click
here (PDF file)
- OP-ED: Elite Ottawa
insiders make
misleading
claims that the Federal Accountability Act is too strong, when
in
fact it is much too weak (December 4, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal
Conservative Cabinet Minister Peter Van Loan misleads House of Commons,
claims new lobbying rules that have not yet been implemented are
"tough"
and require all lobbyists to register (Globeandmail.com, November
30,
2007 -- To see details about loopholes in the federal lobbying
disclosure
law, click here)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE AND VIDEO: CBC
TV's "The National" reports that former Conservative Prime Minister
Brian
Mulroney talked to then-Industry Minister Maxime Bernier for Quebecor
Inc.,
but did not register as a lobbyist (November 29, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Loopholes
in rules and lack of enforcement allow for secret, unlimited gifts from
lobbyists to federal politicians (Sun newspapers across
Canada,
November 27, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Group
Calls for
Rulings
from Ethics Commissioner on Actions by Prime Minister and Other Cabinet
Ministers Concerning Mulroney-Schreiber Situation -- All MPs on Ethics
Committee Should Agree on Questions (November 26, 2007) -- (To see
the Canadian Press wire article published on 12 media websites, and to
see a video of part of Democracy Watch's news conference, click
here (and then click on VIDEO link on CTV.ca page link takes you
to))
- OP-ED: Fully impartial
inquiries
into
Mulroney-Schreiber situation, and many other questionable situations,
needed
to clean up the federal government (November 18, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Conservatives
in
Conflict
of Interest, Cannot Select Investigator, Inquiry Commissioner, Nor
Prosecutor
to Review Mulroney-Schreiber Situation (November 13, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Lobbyists
continue to move in and out of federal government as Conservatives
continue
to break their election promise (Canoe.ca and 9 other media outlets
(publishing Canadian Press wire article), November 11, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Alberta
Conservatives' lobbying law is full of loopholes that allow secret,
unethical
lobbying (Edmonton Sun, November 8, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Federal
Conservatives
and Liberals Both Hypocrites on Calling Inquiries -- But All Parties
Have
Ignored Some of 15 Questionable Situations in Past 15 Years
(November
7, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Hamilton
city appointments process too secret to ensure merit-based appointments
to city committees (Hamilton Spectator, November 7, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Hypocrite
Harper
Continues
to Mislead on Federal Conservatives’ Promise-Breaking on Accountability
and Democratic Reforms (October 17, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Will
Throne Speech
Mention
24 Promised Democratic Reform Measures Federal Conservatives Left Out
of
So-Called “Federal Accountability Act”? (October 16, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Report
Card Reveals
No
Matter Which Party Wins, Ontario Government and Large Corporations Will
Remain Largely Unaccountable for Dishonest, Unethical, Secretive,
Unrepresentative
and Wasteful Activities Because of Key Gaps in Provincial Parties'
"Good
Government" Platforms (October 5, 2007) -- To see the CTV.ca
article
about the Report Card, and to watch a video of the news conference, click
here
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Alberta's
oil royalties scandal could have come to light sooner if province had
whistleblower
protection law (Edmonton Sun website, October 3, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Gaping
legal loopholes allow for secret, unethical lobbying across Canada
(Halifax Chronicle Herald, September 30, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Alberta
Conservative government's bills 1 and 2 more loopholes than law --
secret,
unethical activities by Cabinet ministers, their staff, appointees,
government
employees and lobbyists will remain legal if loopholes are not closed
(Edmonton Sun, September 29, 2007) -- To see Democracy Watch's
analysis
of Bill 1, click
here (PDF file), and of Bill 2, click
here (PDF file)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal
Conservative MP Dick Harris' appointment of Conservative election
nominee
Sharon Smith as the person voters in another riding should call for
help
with the federal government is an unethical action that should be
investigated
by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner (Vancouver
Sun
(Barbara Yaffe's column), August 29, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Loopholes
in federal and Ontario lobbying laws allow political advisors to leave
office and very soon afterwards help drug company push approval of
vaccine
(Toronto Star, August 16, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Following
Democracy Watch's lead, Justice John Gomery calls on the federal
Conservatives
to implement the parts of the Accountability Act that still need
Cabinet
approval, and to make further changes strengthening government
accountability
(CFRA.com website, and Globe and Mail, August 10, 2007) -- To
see
details about Accountability Act changes not yet in force, click
here
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Politicians
who quit for no good reason before their term is up should pay some
costs
(Sunmedia newspapers across Canada (column by Licia Corbella), July 20,
2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: As
Democracy Watch has revealed, the federal Conservatives' so-called
"Accountability
Act" is half as effective as the Conservatives claim, is not fully in
force,
and fails to close more than 70 loopholes (London Free Press
and 4 other Sunmedia newspapers, July 19, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal
Conservatives introduce anti-corruption regulations requiring financial
institutions to track only foreign politicians' accounts, not Canadian
politicians' accounts (CBC.ca website, June 29, 2007) -- For
details,
see Democracy Watch's December 8,
2006
news release
- NEWS RELEASE: Scientific
Studies
Show
Even Small Gifts Have Undue Influence -- New Federal Ethics Watchdogs
Must
Enforce Federal Rules That Prohibit Almost All Gifts to Politicians,
Staff,
Appointees and Public Servants, and All Governments in Canada Must Also
Prohibit Gifts (June 22, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Who Will
Guard the
Guard?
Fully Independent and Empowered Inquiry Needed Into Many RCMP Actions
--
Public Appointments Commission and Other Changes Needed Before
Appointment
of Commissioner or Any Other Government Accountability Watchdogs
(June
19, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Six
Months After
Parliament
Passed It, Half of So-called "Federal Accountability Act" (FAA) Still
Not
In Force, And Conservatives Continue to Break Promises to Close Many
Accountability
Loopholes (June 13, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal
MPs taking trips with their spouses to Taiwan paid for by the Taiwan
government
are violating MP ethics rules (Halifax Chronicle Herald,
June
1, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal
Conservative Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Jim
Prentice
handpicks new land claims negotiators, as Conservatives continue to
fail
to establish promised Public Appointments Commission (Canada.com
website
and 10 other media websites (publishing Canadian Press (CP) article),
May
24, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Recent
Secrey
Scandals
Caused in Part by Federal Conservatives' Broken Election Promises --
Group
Calls on Federal Parties to Introduce and Pass Open Government Bill
(May 23, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal
Conservatives continue patronage and cronyism while delaying
establishment
of promised Public Appointments Commission (Canada.com website, May
23, 2007 -- To see related article, click
here)
- OP-ED: Recent Scandals
Show How
Much
Open Government Measures Are Needed (Kitchener Waterloo Record,
Hill
Times, May 21, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: New
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach's proposed lobbying disclosure law and
conflict
of interest law changes contain same loopholes as other provinces' and
federal laws (Canoe.ca website, May 18, 2007) -- To see Democracy
Watch's
analysis of Bill 1, click
here (PDF file), and of Bill 2, click
here (PDF file)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Secret
donations to federal political party leadership candidates, especially
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, raise conflict of interest and hidden
agenda
questions (Canada.com website, May 16, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: B.C.
lobbying scandals reveal loopholes in provincial lobbying law, and lack
of enforcement of the law (Vancouver Sun, May 12, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Federal
Conservatives
Propose Some Political Loan Restrictions, But Where Are Their Promised
Measures on Nomination and Leadership Races, Open Government,
Merit-Based
Appointments, Honesty, Ethics and Secret Lobbying? (May 8, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Consultants
facilitating Ottawa's city planning process were suggested by, and have
past business links with, the mayor (Ottawa Citizen, April
25,
2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Former
B.C. government Deputy Minister in conflict of interest as a special
adviser
to the B.C. Premier and also a lobbyist (Victoria Tiimes Colonist,
April 24, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Democracy
Watch Proud
To Have Played Small Part in Charter of Rights History -- Canada Also
Needs
A Charter of Government and Corporate Accountability and Democracy
(April 16, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal
Conservative government contract for military hardware goes to company
for which Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor used to be a lobbyist (Toronto
Star, April 12, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Alberta
Conservatives' proposed lobbying disclosure law is full of loopholes
(Edmonton Sun, April 12, 2007) -- To see Democracy Watch's
analysis
of Bill 1, click
here (PDF file)
- NEWS RELEASE: Former
Federal Ethics
Commissioner Failed To Enforce Rules Many Times, Does Not Deserve
Severance
Payment -- Next Commissioner Must Have Strict Enforcement Attitude and
Experience (April 5, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal
Conservative Cabinet ministers meet behind closed doors with big
business
executives, a recipe for secret lobbying and corruption (Canada.com
website and National Post, March 23, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Ethics
Commissioner
Again
Fails To Enforce Ethics Rules -- Refuses To Deal With Complaints About
Accountability Act and Income Trust Tax Broken Promises -- Democracy
Watch
Seeks Federal Politician To Re-File Complaints, Lawyer to Take Ethics
Commissioner
To Court (March 16, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Ethics
Commissioner
Refuses
To Deal With Complaint About MP Wajid Khan Switching Parties and
Keeping
Report Secret -- Democracy Watch Calls on Commons Committee on Ethics
To
Order Ethics Commissioner to Enforce "Honesty" Rule (March 14, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Former
Conservative MP and party election campaign co-chair John Reynolds
becomes
a lobbyist (Vancouver Sun and Ottawa Citizen, March
13,
2007)
- RADIO INTERVIEW: Democracy
Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher on loopholes in Canada's lobbying law,
and why Australia needs a stronger law to stop secret, unethical
lobbying
(Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC - "The National Interest"
show),
March 11, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Alberta's
Conservative government proposes very flawed lobbying disclosure law --
will allow secret lobbying and unethical relationships between
lobbyists
and politicians, other government officials (Edmonton Journal,
March 8, 2007) -- To see Democracy Watch's analysis of Bill 1, click
here (PDF file), and of Bill 2, click
here (PDF file)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal
Conservatives have broken their election promise to end secret lobbying
of Cabinet ministers and top government officials (Globe and Mail,
March 5, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Alberta's
new Premier Ed Stelmach promises lobbying and government ethics
reforms,
but details released so far reveal proposals are weak and
loophole-filled
(Calgary Herald, March 1, 2007) -- To see Democracy Watch's
analysis
of Bill 1, click
here (PDF file), and of Bill 2, click
here (PDF file)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Alberta's
new Premier Ed Stelmach discloses only some of his Conservative Party
leadership
campaign donors, raising ongoing conflict of interest questions (Calgary
Herald, February 28, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Half of
Federal
Accountability
Act Not In Force, Despite Conservatives' False Claims -- Will All
Parties
Work Together to Correct the Government's 85 Remaining Undemocratic
Flaws?
(February 5, 2007) -- To see the February 6, 2007 Sun Media article
about
this news release, click
here
- NEWS RELEASE: Group
Files Court
Challenge
of Federal Registrar of Lobbyists' Ruling That Lobbyists Can Fundraise
for Ministers They Lobby (January 25, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Mayor
of Ottawa appoints head of taxi company to public transportation
advisory
task force, ignoring clear conflict of interest (Ottawa Citizen,
January 24, 2007)
- NEWS RELEASE: Democracy
Watch Files
Ethics Complaint Against Party-Switcher Wajid Khan -- Calls on Ethics
Commissioner
to Resign (January 23, 2007)
- WEBSITE ARTICLE: Alberta
Premier Ed Stelmach and two of his Cabinet ministers propose to sell
access
to themselves at event for $5,000, but criticism leads to cancellation
of event (Edmonton Journal, January 11, 2007)
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