November 4, 2005 - CTV Newsnet ("Mike Duffy Live" show) re: Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005)

November 1 - Global TV News (First National show) re: effect of the Gomery Commission Inquiry report, and need to clean up the federal government's accountability system

November 1 - CTV Newsnet special report re: effect of the Gomery Commission Inquiry report, and need to clean up the federal government's accountability system

October 27 - CBC TV's "News Morning" show re: how the questionable spending by former Liberal Cabinet minister and President of the Royal Canadian Mint David Dingwall reveal how the loopholes in the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal

October 20 - CTV Newsnet ("Mike Duffy Live" show) re: how the questionable lobbying activities and spending by former Liberal Cabinet minister and President of the Royal Canadian Mint David Dingwall reveal how the loopholes in the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal and Industry Minister Incorrect About Time Limit on Enforcing Lobbying Law -- Crown Prosecutors Must Test Limit By Charging Lobbyists Violating the Law, Registrar Must Enforce Lobbyists' Code of Conduct

October 20 - CHTV Hamilton (5:30 at issue show) re: how the questionable lobbying activities and spending by former Cabinet minister and President of the Royal Canadian Mint David Dingwall reveal how the loopholes in the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal

October 19 - CBC Newsworld's Canada Now re: how the questionable lobbying activities and spending by former Cabinet minister and President of the Royal Canadian Mint David Dingwall reveal how the loopholes in the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal

October 12 - CBC TV's "The National" re: how the questionable lobbying activities and spending by former Cabinet minister and President of the Royal Canadian Mint David Dingwall reveal how the loopholes in the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal

September 28 - CTV Newsnet ("Mike Duffy Live" show) re: how the questionable lobbying activities and spending by former Cabinet minister and President of the Royal Canadian Mint David Dingwall reveal how the loopholes in the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal, and also Group Files Court Challenge of Federal Ethics Commissioner, Registrar of Lobbyists

September 14 - Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) news re: in direction violation of federal ethics rules (which require ministers to wait two years before becoming a lobbyist), former federal Indian and Northern Affairs minister Robert Nault registered in July 2005 (1.5 years after leaving Cabinet) to lobby his old department and other federal departments

August 31 - CTV Newsnet re: Justice Minister Irwin Cotler asks public to submit nominees for Supreme Court justice position that opens up in January 2006, but does nothing to remove selection process from Prime Minister's control as Prime Minister Paul Martin promised to do (NOTE: if you subscribe to the Globe and Mail, you can read an article on this same subject by clicking on the following link - Article in Globe and Mail)

July 20 - CBC Newsworld Business News show re: CIBC pays $125 million penalty to settle with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission who charged CIBC for hedge-fund investment fraud

June 29 - CTV NewsNet re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation

June 29 - CHTV's "@ 12:30" show re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation

June 24 - CTV National News re: Federal Bill C-11 Needs to Be Strengthened or It Won't Protect Whistleblowers Effectively

June 21 - CTV National News re: Ethics Commissioner Ruling on Sgro Affair Biased, Flawed -- Avoids Many Key Issues

June 8 - CTV Newsnet ("Countdown with Mike Duffy" show) re: Ethics Commissioner Must Rule on PMO Staffer, Fails To Fulfill Legal Duties By Refusing To Do So

June 5 - CBC TV's "News Sunday" show re: the loopholes in the rules, enforcement and penalties in the federal government's accountability system and how the loopholes encourage politicians, political staff, political appointees, public servants and lobbyists to act dishonestly, unethically, secretively and wastefully, and what is needed to clean up the system

June 5 - CPAC's "Goldhawk Live" show re: the loopholes in the rules, enforcement and penalties in the federal government's accountability system and how the loopholes encourage politicians, political staff, political appointees, public servants and lobbyists to act dishonestly, unethically, secretively and wastefully, and what is needed to clean up the system

May 20 - CBC TV News (St. John's) re: the Chief of Royal Newfoundland Constabulary police force is maintaining a level of secrecy about two internal investigations that may actually cover up wrongdoing

May 18 - CBC TV News (St. John's) re: Chief of Royal Newfoundland Constabulary police force has pursued access-to-information requester and constables who are leaking information about internal investigations, maintaining a level of secrecy that may be undermining the public interest

May 11 - CHTV's "@ 12:30" show re: Ethics Commissioner Process Biased, Flawed -- Impartial Inquiry Needed into Sgro Affair

May 10 - CJOH TV news (Ottawa) re: Ethics Commissioner Process Biased, Flawed -- Impartial Inquiry Needed into Sgro Affair

May 10 - CBC TV's "News Morning" show re: Will Parties Work Together to Clean-Up Federal Government? (Democracy Watch news release) and re: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher's Op-Ed on the Gomery Commission Inquiry and Reforms Needed to Clean-up the Federal Government

May 3 - CBC Newsworld's "Canada Now" re: Prime Minister Paul Martin would confirm how fundamentally undemocratic and unethical he is if he tries to use appointments to the Senate or diplomatic appointments of Conservative MPs as a way of propping up the Liberal minority government, and any Conservative MP who accepted such an appointment would confirm how fundamentally undemocratic and unethical they are

May 2 - CTV NewsNet re: federal Parliament's Public Accounts Committee may, but hopefully will not, abandon investigation of contracts awarded to the Earnscliffe group of companies (Earnscliffe staff helped Paul Martin on his Liberal Party leadership campaign for several years at the same time as they worked at the Department of Finance or lobbied the Department of Finance)

May 2 - CHTV (Ontario - noon hour show) re: how the federal government's weak honesty, ethics, openness, political donations and waste prevention systems are the actual scandal, and strengthening the rules, enforcement and penalties in all of these systems is what is needed (not an election), to prevent future scandals similar to the sponsorship scandal

April 28 - Omni TV (Ontario) re: Will Parties Work Together to Clean-Up Federal Government? (Democracy Watch news release)

April 12 - CBC Newsworld's "Canada Now" re: how the federal government's weak honesty, ethics, openness, political donations and waste prevention systems are the actual scandal, and strengthening the rules, enforcement and penalties in all of these systems is what is needed (not an election), to prevent future scandals similar to the sponsorship scandal

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Duff Conacher on CBC TV's Marketplace Calling for Federal Government Review of Bank Credit Card Interest Rates (February 27, 2005)

February 26 - Rogers Cable TV (Ontario - Agenda morning show) re: federal Liberal government does little to prevent banks from gouging Canadians with excessive service charges and credit card interest rates

February 25 - Rogers Cable TV (Ontario - Agenda morning show) re: federal Liberal government does little to prevent banks from gouging Canadians with excessive service charges and credit card interest rates

February 24 - Rogers Cable TV (Ontario - Agenda morning show) re: federal Liberal government does little to prevent banks from gouging Canadians with excessive service charges and credit card interest rates

February 8 - Omni 1 TV (Ontario - Agenda morning show) re: federal Liberal government does little to prevent banks from gouging Canadians with excessive service charges and credit card interest rates

December 19 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver- "The World Today" show) re: Democracy Watch's December 19, 2005 news release Unbelievable Federal Party Leaders Continue to Mislead Voters in English Debates -- Fail to Pledge "I Will Resign if I Break My Promises" and Fail to Pledge to Pass "Honesty-in-Politics" Law (December 19, 2005)

December 6 - CFRA Talk Radio (Ottawa - Steve Madely show) re: Group Calls on Media to Ask Federal Party Leaders “If You Break Your Promises, Will You Resign?” and Calls for Effective "Honesty-in-Politics" Law (Democracy Watch news release, December 1, 2005)

December 5 - Radio Canada News re: Federal Elections Act must be changed to end Prime Minister's power to appoint election Returning Officers who play key role in ensuring the election is fair -- all party leaders should have a veto over Returning Officer appointments

December 4 - CBC Radio (Sunday show with host Michael Enright) re: federal election 2006 and How the System is the Scandal and Reforms Needed to Clean-up the Federal Government

December 2 - CBC Windsor (morning show) re: Group Calls on Media to Ask Federal Party Leaders “If You Break Your Promises, Will You Resign?” and Calls for Effective "Honesty-in-Politics" Law (Democracy Watch news release, December 1, 2005)

December 1 - QR77 Talk Radio (Alberta - The World Tonight show) re: Group Calls on Media to Ask Federal Party Leaders “If You Break Your Promises, Will You Resign?” and Calls for Effective "Honesty-in-Politics" Law (Democracy Watch news release, December 1, 2005)

December 1 - 940 AM Talk Radio (Montreal - Ken Connors afternoon show) re: Group Calls on Media to Ask Federal Party Leaders “If You Break Your Promises, Will You Resign?” and Calls for Effective "Honesty-in-Politics" Law (Democracy Watch news release, December 1, 2005)

December 1 - Radio Canada News re: WEBSITE ARTICLE: Loopholes in Federal Political Donations Law Allow for Wealthy Interests to Corrupt Parties and Candidates With Secret, Unlimited Donations (Toronto Star, December 1, 2005)

November 30 - 570 News Talk Radio (Kitchener-Waterloo Jeff Allan morning show) re: polls show Canadians are seeking honesty and accountability in the federal government, but lack of honesty-in-politics law means that parties pledging to clean things up can easily be lying to voters (as so many candidates and parties have lied in the past)

November 29 - CBC Radio (Radio Noon phone-in show across Québec (in English)) re: polls show Canadians are seeking honesty and accountability in the federal government, but lack of honesty-in-politics law means that parties pledging to clean things up can easily be lying to voters (as so many candidates and parties have lied in the past)

November 29 - CBC Radio (Radio Noon phone-in show across Ontario) re: need for a right to refuse/decline the ballot in federal elections law to ensure that voters can vote for "none-of-the-above" if they want or if there is no candidate from the party they support in their riding

November 28 - 88.9 and 95.7 Talk Radio (The Afternoon News - Halifax, St. John, Moncton) re: media are misleading Canadians by not reporting percentage of undecided voters in pre-election polls, and should be required by law to report full poll results in every report about poll results, and other federal election issues

November 18 - 940 AM Talk Radio (Montreal - evening show) re: media are misleading Canadians by not reporting percentage of undecided voters in pre-election polls, and should be required by law to report full poll results in every report about poll results

November 14 - 570 News Talk Radio (Kitchener-Waterloo Jeff Allan morning show) re: Liberals' economic update and tax cut and spending promises are dishonest and unethical because they are simply bribing people with their own money, and Gomery's Second Report, Parties Now and in Election, Must Clean Up System to Prevent Future Scandals (Democracy Watch news release, November 3, 2005) and Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005)

November 10 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver - The World Today show) re: Federal Liberals Delay and Deceive on Democratic Reforms (Democracy Watch news release, November 10, 2005)

November 8 - 570 News Talk Radio (Kitchener-Waterloo Jeff Allan morning show) re: Gomery's Second Report, Parties Now and in Election, Must Clean Up System to Prevent Future Scandals (Democracy Watch news release, November 3, 2005), and Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005)

November 7 - CBC Radio Calgary re: All Canadian Governments Need Effective Whistleblower Protection Laws

November 4 - Redeye Coop Radio (Vancouver) re: Paul Martin and Almost All Liberal Ministers, MPs, Staff, Appointees Responsible for Adscam -- Broke Integrity Promises, Should Not Be Trusted Now (Democracy Watch news release, November 2, 2005), and Gomery's Second Report, Parties Now and in Election, Must Clean Up System to Prevent Future Scandals (Democracy Watch news release, November 3, 2005), and Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005)

November 4 - CFRB Radio news (Toronto) re: Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005)

November 4 - CJAD Radio news (Montreal) re: Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005)

November 4 - CKLW Talk Radio (Windsor) re: Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005)

November 2 - QR77 Talk Radio (Alberta) re: Paul Martin and Almost All Liberal Ministers, MPs, Staff, Appointees Responsible for Adscam -- Broke Integrity Promises, Should Not Be Trusted Now (Democracy Watch news release, November 2, 2005), and Gomery's Second Report, Parties Now and in Election, Must Clean Up System to Prevent Future Scandals (Democracy Watch news release, November 3, 2005)

November 2 - CKLN Ryerson Radio (Toronto) re: Paul Martin and Almost All Liberal Ministers, MPs, Staff, Appointees Responsible for Adscam -- Broke Integrity Promises, Should Not Be Trusted Now (Democracy Watch news release, November 2, 2005), and Gomery's Second Report, Parties Now and in Election, Must Clean Up System to Prevent Future Scandals (Democracy Watch news release, November 3, 2005)

November 2 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver - The World Today show) re: whistleblower protection Bill C-11's fatal flaws will discourage many people from reporting wrongdoing by federal government officials, and give no protection to politicians, political staff, government contractors and members of the public who witness wrongdoing

November 2 - 95.7 Talk Radio (Halifax, St. John, Moncton) re: Paul Martin and Almost All Liberal Ministers, MPs, Staff, Appointees Responsible for Adscam -- Broke Integrity Promises, Should Not Be Trusted Now (Democracy Watch news release, November 2, 2005), and Gomery's Second Report, Parties Now and in Election, Must Clean Up System to Prevent Future Scandals (Democracy Watch news release, November 3, 2005)

November 1 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver - morning show) re: effect of the Gomery Commission Inquiry report, and need to clean up the federal government's accountability system

November 1 - CBC Radio (Ottawa - morning show feature Part 2) re: loopholes in federal lobbying law, and weak enforcement by lapdog Registrar of Lobbyists, means most lobbying of federal government remains secret and unethical

October 31 - CBC Radio (Ottawa - morning show feature Part 1) re: loopholes in federal lobbying law, and weak enforcement by lapdog Registrar of Lobbyists, means most lobbying of federal government remains secret and unethical

October 19 - CKLW Talk Radio (Windsor) re: how the questionable lobbying activities and spending by former Cabinet minister and President of the Royal Canadian Mint David Dingwall reveal how the loopholes in the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal

October 19 - New 740 Talk Radio (Montreal) re: how the questionable lobbying activities and spending by former Cabinet minister and President of the Royal Canadian Mint David Dingwall reveal how the loopholes in the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal

October 13 - CBC Radio's "The World at 8 am" news broadcast re: how the questionable lobbying activities and spending by former Cabinet minister and President of the Royal Canadian Mint David Dingwall reveal how the loopholes in the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal

October 11 - QR77 Talk Radio (Alberta - Mike Blanchard show) re: Federal Industry Minister Admits Democracy Watch is Correct, Lobbyist Regulation System is Completely Ineffective (For details about flaws in the Registrar's powers and position, see Democracy Watch's op-ed Enforcer of Lobbyists Code of Conduct Still Lacks Needed Independence and Resources (Hill Times, March 28, 2005)) and Group Files Court Challenge of Federal Ethics Commissioner, Registrar of Lobbyists

October 11 - CFRA Talk Radio (Ottawa - Steve Madely morning show) re: Federal Industry Minister Admits Democracy Watch is Correct, Lobbyist Regulation System is Completely Ineffective (For details about flaws in the Registrar's powers and position, see Democracy Watch's op-ed Enforcer of Lobbyists Code of Conduct Still Lacks Needed Independence and Resources (Hill Times, March 28, 2005)) and Group Files Court Challenge of Federal Ethics Commissioner, Registrar of Lobbyists

October 3 - Radio Owen Sound re: Chief Electoral Officer Ignores Secret Donations Loophole in Election Reform Recommendations (Canadian Press wire story on CTV.ca website) and Group Files Court Challenge of Federal Ethics Commissioner, Registrar of Lobbyists

October 3 - 570 News Talk Radio (Kitchener-Waterloo Jeff Allan show) re: Chief Electoral Officer Ignores Secret Donations Loophole in Election Reform Recommendations (Canadian Press wire story on CTV.ca website)

September 30 - QR77 News Talk Radio (Alberta) re: Chief Electoral Officer Ignores Secret Donations Loophole in Election Reform Recommendations (Canadian Press wire story on CTV.ca website) website) and Group Files Court Challenge of Federal Ethics Commissioner, Registrar of Lobbyists

September 28 - CKLN Ryerson radio (Toronto) re: how the questionable lobbying activities and spending by former Cabinet minister and President of the Royal Canadian Mint David Dingwall reveal how the loopholes in the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal

September 16 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver-The World Today show) re: Ethics Commissioner again shows his poor judgement and lack of awareness of the legal requirements of his quasi-judicial position by stating that the federal sponsorship scandal could be viewed as either a "triumph of entrepreneurship" or a "triumph of theft"

August 19 - QR77 Talk Radio (Alberta) re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation

August 9 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver - drive home show) re: Prime Minister Shouldn't Add to Unethical Senate, Switiching MPs Should Resign Their Seats

July 22 - QR77 Talk Radio (Alberta - The Rutherford show) re: law firms who did most work for federal Liberal government in 2003 also made large donations to the federal Liberal Party

July 19 - CJAD Talk Radio (Montreal - The Tommy Schnurmacher show) re: bank mergers are not in the public interest, and federal government is not doing enough to track lending, investment and service records of the banks so if a merger is allowed it will never know if lending, investment or service records have improved or worsened

July 4 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver - The World Today show) re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation

June 29 - QR77 Talk Radio (Alberta - The World Tonight show) re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation

June 28 - 600 AM Talk Radio (Vancouver - Rafe Mair show) re: Ethics Commissioner Ruling on Sgro Affair Biased, Flawed -- Avoids Many Key Issues

June 25 - CBC Radio's "The House" re: Federal Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro Lacks Expertise, and is Biased Against Fulfilling His Legal Duties Properly (To listen to the piece, scroll down on the page this link takes you to and click on the link to the June 25, 2005 show -- the piece starts 12 minutes, 40 seconds into the show, and ends 20 minutes, 50 seconds into the show)

June 24 - CBC Radio Edmonton (morning show) re: predatory loan companies association introduces voluntary code that they claim will clean up abuses in the industry, even though every study of voluntary codes has proven that they are not effective

June 21 - CBC Radio News - Canada at 5 re: Ethics Commissioner Ruling on Sgro Affair Biased, Flawed -- Avoids Many Key Issues

June 21 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver-The World Today show) re: Ethics Commissioner Ruling on Sgro Affair Biased, Flawed -- Avoids Many Key Issues

June 21 - QR77 Talk Radio (Alberta-The Rutherford show) re: Ethics Commissioner Ruling on Sgro Affair Biased, Flawed -- Avoids Many Key Issues

June 20 - CKLW Talk Radio (Windsor) re: scandalous activities with Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC - which gives loans that are supposed to be repayable (but usually have not been repaid) to technology companies) is more evidence that the federal government's accountability system is the real scandal because it effectively legalizes dishonest, unethical, secretive and wasteful activities

June 17 - Q97.5 EZ Rock (Toronto) re: Ethics Commissioner Must Rule on PMO Staffer, Fails To Fulfill Legal Duties By Refusing To Do So (based on CP wire story)

June 8 - CKLN Ryerson Radio (Toronto - Word of Mouth show) re: Ethics Commissioner Must Rule on PMO Staffer, Fails To Fulfill Legal Duties By Refusing To Do So

June 6 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver - The World Today show) re: Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal takes stress leave and is under investigation by Air Canada for suspicious activity, as the situation involving Grewal's tapes of conversations with Liberals concerning switching his vote grows more confusing

May 30 - QR77 Talk Radio (Alberta - The World Tonight show) re: First Quarterly Disclosure of Federal Political Party Donations Shows Undemocratic Secret Donations Still Dominate, Liberals the Choice of Wealthy Donors

May 24 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver - Nightline B.C. show) re: Group Calls on Ethics Commissioner to Rule On Deal Making by Prime Minister, MPs and PMO Staffer and federal Liberal Cabinet has maintained an office and staff to respond to the Gomery Commission Inquiry since February 2004, paid for by taxpayers even though some functions of the office may be solely for the benefit of the federal Liberal Party (in violation of federal ethics rules)

May 24 - CFRA Talk Radio (Ottawa - Lowell Green show) re: federal Liberal Cabinet has maintained an office and staff to respond to the Gomery Commission Inquiry since February 2004, paid for by taxpayers even though some functions of the office may be solely for the benefit of the federal Liberal Party (in violation of federal ethics rules)

May 24 - CFRB news (Toronto and surrounding area) re: Group Calls on Ethics Commissioner to Rule On Deal Making by Prime Minister, MPs and PMO Staffer

May 24 - Radio Canada ("Sans frontières" show) re: Group Calls on Ethics Commissioner to Rule On Deal Making by Prime Minister, MPs and PMO Staffer

May 24 - CBC Radio Vancouver (Early Edition show) re: Group Calls on Ethics Commissioner to Rule On Deal Making by Prime Minister, MPs and PMO Staffer

May 20 - QR77 Talk Radio (Alberta - The World Tonight show) re: Group Calls on Ethics Commissioner to Rule On Deal Making by Prime Minister, MPs and PMO Staffer

May 20 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver - The World Today show) re: Group Calls on Ethics Commissioner to Rule On Deal Making by Prime Minister, MPs and PMO Staffer

May 20 - 940 AM Radio (Montreal - news) re: Group Calls on Ethics Commissioner to Rule On Deal Making by Prime Minister, MPs and PMO Staffer

May 19 - 600 AM Talk Radio (Vancouver - Rafe Mair show) re: Will Parties Work Together to Clean-Up Federal Government?

May 19 - CBC Radio News (Ottawa) re: need for restrictions on donations to candidates for Ottawa's city council

May 4 - CHUO Radio (Ottawa - Click Here show) re: the federal government's accountability system is the scandal, and an election won't change the system (especially if the media continue to let the parties off the hook by not focusing on reforms needed to clean-up the system)

May 2 - CBC Radio (Moncton, New Brunswick - morning show) re: how the federal government's weak honesty, ethics, openness, political donations and waste prevention systems are the actual scandal, and strengthening the rules, enforcement and penalties in all of these systems is what is needed (not an election), to prevent future scandals similar to the sponsorship scandal

April 25 - CFRB News (Toronto and surrounding area) re: NDP and Liberals should be making deal to clean up the federal government's accountability system, not just to clean up the budget and the environment

April 23 - Co-op Radio (Vancouver - Redeye show) re: the federal government's accountability system is the scandal, and an election won't change the system (especially if the media continue to let the parties off the hook by not focusing on reforms needed to clean-up the system)

April 21 - 600 AM Talk Radio (Vancouver - Rafe Mair show) re: the federal government's accountability system is the scandal, and an election won't change the system (especially if the media continue to let the parties off the hook by not focusing on reforms needed to clean-up the system)

April 20 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver - Bill Good show) re: the federal government's accountability system is the scandal, and an election won't change the system (especially if the media continue to let the parties off the hook by not focusing on reforms needed to clean-up the system)

April 19 - CFRA Talk Radio (Ottawa - morning show) re: ethics complaints against Earnscliffe Strategy group and other lobbyists and failure of federal government to establish an independent, well-resourced commission to enforce the Lobbyists Code of Conduct

April 17 - CBC Radio (Cross-country Check-up show) re: the system is the scandal, and an election won't change the system (especially if the media continue to let the parties off the hook by not focusing on reforms needed to clean-up the system)

April 13 - CKLN Ryerson Radio (Toronto - evening show) re: how the federal government's weak honesty, ethics, openness, political donations and waste prevention systems are the actual scandal, and strengthening the rules, enforcement and penalties in all of these systems is what is needed (not an election) to prevent future scandals similar to the sponsorship scandal

April 12 - CKNW Talk Radio news (Vancouver) re: need for federal government to put in place accountability measures for airlines before allowing Jetsgo to start up again, or any other airline to make significant changes

April 12 - Radio Canada International re: how the federal government's weak honesty, ethics, openness, political donations and waste prevention systems are the actual scandal, and strengthening the rules, enforcement and penalties in all of these systems is what is needed (not an election), to prevent future scandals

April 7, 2005 - CBC Radio: Duff Conacher's "Commentary" on the Need to Close All Loopholes in the Federal Government's Political Donations, Ethics and Spending Systems

April 5, 2005 - CBC Radio (Ottawa - morning show) re: federal government's negligence in not doing enough to require banks to keep branches open and provide adequate access to basic banking services helped the growth of the gouging, criminal cheque-cashing/predatory lending outlet industry

March 21 - CBC Radio (Halifax - morning show) re: Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 20 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver - Sterling Fox show) re: Group Calls on PM to Clean Up His Undemocratic, Unethical So-called "Free" Vote System and Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 17 - CBC Radio (Halifax - Maritime noon show) re: Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 16 - CBC Radio (Whitehorse - morning show) re: Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 16 - CBC Radio (Calgary - morning show) re: Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 16 - CBC Radio (Edmonton - morning show) re: Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 16, 2005 - CBC News re: Democracy Watch Calls for Creation of Air Passengers Organization (APO)

March 15 - CKNW (Vancouver - The World Today show) re: Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 15 - 940 News (Montreal) re: Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 15 - CBC Radio (Ottawa - All in a Day afternoon show) re: Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

January 21 - CBC Radio (St. John's) morning show re: violation of federal ethics rules by regulatory agency Transportation Safety Board member Jim Walsh, appointed by Prime Minister Paul Martin, when he attended the Liberal Caucus Christmas party

January 14 - CKNW Talk Radio (Vancouver) "Nightline" show re: resignation of Citizenship and Immigration Minister Judy Sgro and overall lack of effective enforcement of ethics rules in federal government

December 28 - Toronto Star re: Lobbyists Working For Parties and Candidates Violating Federal Ethics Rules

December 28 - National Post re: Federal Political Party Leaders Practise Politics As Usual, Increasing Voter Cynicism

December 26 - Regina Leader-Post re: power of Prime Minister (and provincial premiers) to appoint, without any public or legislature review, thousands of people  heads of agencies, boards, tribunals, courts, commissions undermines freedoms of Canadians because it results in ruling party members, donors and supporters receiving better treatment

December 24 - Montreal Gazette re: candidates and political party leaders are responsible for voter cynicism because they have broken election promises so regularly in the past, voters should have right to refuse ballot in federal elections (as is allowed in Ontario)

December 21 - PoliticsWatch.com re: Lobbyists Helping Parties and Candidates in Federal Election Are Likely Violating Ethics Rules

December 20 - Globe and Mail (Election "Daily Diary" column) re: Democracy Watch's December 16, 2005 news release After Missing Opportunity Last Night, Will Any Federal Pary Leader Take the Key Step Needed to Gain Voters' Trust Tonight By Pledging “I will resign if I break my promises” and Pledging to Pass an "Honesty-in-Politics" Law and Democracy Watch's December 19, 2005 news release Unbelievable Federal Party Leaders Continue to Mislead Voters in English Debates -- Fail to Pledge "I Will Resign if I Break My Promises" and Fail to Pledge to Pass "Honesty-in-Politics" Law

December 17 - National Post (Andrew Coyne's column) re: Democracy Watch's December 1, 2005 news release Group Calls on Media to Ask Federal Party Leaders “If You Break Your Promises, Will You Resign?” and Calls for Effective "Honesty-in-Politics" Law and Democracy Watch's December 16, 2005 news release After Missing Opportunity Last Night, Will Any Federal Pary Leader Take the Key Step Needed to Gain Voters' Trust Tonight By Pledging “I will resign if I break my promises” and Pledging to Pass an "Honesty-in-Politics" Law

December 15 - Moncton Times and Transcript re: election nomination campaigns should be regulated by law, not left to the political parties, to ensure honest, ethical, democratic election candidate selection processes

December 15 - Georgia Straight re: Canadian Debt Levels At Record Levels -- Crash Likely Coming Soon

December 13 - Edmonton Sun re: Political Parties Need to Make Honesty, Accountability Pledges to Win Trust of Voters (See for details Democracy Watch's December 1, 2005 news release Group Calls on Media to Ask Federal Party Leaders “If You Break Your Promises, Will You Resign?” and Calls for Effective "Honesty-in-Politics" Law

December 12 - PoliticsWatch.com re: Lobbyists Helping Parties and Candidates in Federal Election Are Likely Violating Ethics Rules

December 12 - Hill Times re: Political Polls Misleading Voters By Not Reporting Undecided Voter Numbers (See for details Democracy Watch letter-to-the-editor  Media reporting of pre-election political polls misleads public)

December 2005-January 2006 issue - Dialogue magazine re: Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005)

December 8 - Globe and Mail re: Group Calls on Media to Ask Federal Party Leaders “If You Break Your Promises, Will You Resign?” and Calls for Effective "Honesty-in-Politics" Law (Democracy Watch news release, December 1, 2005)

December 6 - 24 Hours (Free daily newspaper in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal) re: Group Calls on Media to Ask Federal Party Leaders “If You Break Your Promises, Will You Resign?” and Calls for Effective "Honesty-in-Politics" Law (Democracy Watch news release, December 1, 2005)

December 5 - Hill Times re: Federal Parties Did Not Do Enough to Make Parliament Work Since June 2004 Election

December 5 - Ottawa Citizen re: lobbyists working on election campaigns are violating federal ethics rules

December 2 - Globe and Mail.com re: Group Calls on Media to Ask Federal Party Leaders “If You Break Your Promises, Will You Resign?” and Calls for Effective "Honesty-in-Politics" Law (Democracy Watch news release, December 1, 2005)

December 2 - Moncton Times and Transcript re: Group Calls on Media to Ask Federal Party Leaders “If You Break Your Promises, Will You Resign?” and Calls for Effective "Honesty-in-Politics" Law (Democracy Watch news release, December 1, 2005)

December 1 - Toronto Star re: Loopholes in Federal Political Donations Law Allow for Wealthy Interests to Corrupt Parties and Candidates With Secret, Unlimited Donations (After December 1st, you will have to be a subscriber to the Toronto Star to read this article)

November 29 - Calgary Herald re: Media reporting of pre-election political polls misleads public

November 28 - Hill Times letter-to-the-editor re: Media reporting of pre-election political polls misleads public
November 25 - Moncton Times and Transcript letter-to-the-editor re: Media reporting of pre-election political polls misleads public
November 23 - Toronto Star letter-to-the-editor re: Media reporting of pre-election political polls misleads public

November 25 - Ottawa Citizen re: Saskatchewan whistleblower who lost union job for reporting wrongdoing of union bosses wins Supreme Court of Canada ruling that she should not have been fired, Democracy Watch calls on all Canadian governments to establish effective whistleblower protection laws and systems

November 24 - PoliticsWatch.com re: Federal Liberals' Pledges to Strengthen Lobbying Law Would Fail to End Secret, Unethical Lobbying

November 22 - Ottawa Citizen and National Post re: Democracy Watch again calls resignation of federal Ethics Commissioner after Commissioner found in contempt of Parliament by a parliamentary committee for violating investigation rules (For details on history of Democracy Watch's challenge of the federal Ethics Commissioner's biased actions and statements, see Democracy Watch's June 29, 2005 news release Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation and Democracy Watch's September 29, 2005 news release Group Files Court Challenge of Federal Ethics Commissioner, Registrar of Lobbyists)

November 15 - Ottawa Citizen (Barbara Yaffe column) re: whistleblower protection Bill C-11's fatal flaws will discourage many people from reporting wrongdoing by federal government officials, and give no protection to politicians, political staff, government contractors and members of the public who witness wrongdoing

November 14 - Hill Times re: Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005)

November 14 - Hill Times re: Federal Conservatives' Proposals Need to Be Implemented to End Secretive, Unethical Lobbying

November 14 - Vancouver Sun (Barbara Yaffe column) re: whistleblower protection Bill C-11's fatal flaws will discourage many people from reporting wrongdoing by federal government officials, and give no protection to politicians, political staff, government contractors and members of the public who witness wrongdoing

November 8 - Montreal Gazette editorial re: Federal Conservatives' Propose Good Plan to Clean Up Federal Government, Honesty in Politics Law One of Few Key Gaps

November 8 - Calgary Sun (Licia Corbella column) re: Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005) and Liberals' response to Conservatives' pledges is dishonest, hypocritical and unethical

November 8 - Straight Goods online news service re: Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps (Democracy Watch news release, November 4, 2005)

November 7 - CBC Radio Calgary website re: All Canadian Governments Need Effective Whistleblower Protection Laws

November 5 - Globe and Mail re: Liberals' Response to Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Package is Dishonest, Hypocritical and Unethical (You need to be a subscriber to view this article on the Globe and Mail website after November 5th)

November 5 - Globe and Mail editorial "On the ethics watch" re: how the federal parties are now competing, because of Democracy Watch's strong advocacy, to pledge the most comprehensive, effective honesty, ethics, openness, waste-prevention representation proposals package (For details, see Democracy Watch's November 4, 2005 news release  Conservatives' Ethics Accountability Pledges Much Better Than Other Parties, But Still Have Key Gaps)

November 1 - Calgary Herald re: proposed changes to Calgary's political donations system not enough to prevent corrupting secret donations, Alberta provincial government should pass strong law to cover all municipalities in Alberta

October 31 - Maclean's magazine re: Federal Adscam sponsorship program scandal is a symptom of how the government accountbaility system is the scandal because the federal lobbying law is full of loopholes and ineffectively enforced (For details, see Democracy Watch coordinator Duff Conacher's op-ed by clicking on the following link: Lobbying Laws Endanger the Public - Allow for Secret, Unethical Lobbying)

October 31 - Hill Times re: ineffective enforcement of the federal Lobbyists Registration Act

October 31 - Montreal Gazette (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Federal Liberals' Lobbying Scandal is 11 Years Old

October 26, 2005 - Globe and Mail re:  Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien Still Using Prime Minister's Office Service, Raising Questions of Violations of Federal Ethics Rules (You will have to be a subscriber to the Globe and Mailto see this article after October 26, 2005)

October 24 - Hill Times (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Federal Liberals' Lobbying Scandal is 11 Years Old

October 18 - Globe and Mail re: Federal Lobbyists Registrar Begins Much-Delayed Investigations Into Democracy Watch's Eight Ethics Complaints (To see all the details about the history of Democracy Watch's ethics complaints, go to: Link to Ethics Court Cases and Ethics Complaints Summary Page)

October 18 - CanadaFreePress.com (opinion piece by Beryl Wiseman) re: whistleblower protection Bill C-11's fatal flaws will discourage many people from reporting wrongdoing by federal government officials, and give no protection to politicians, political staff, government contractors and members of the public who witness wrongdoing

October 17 - Ottawa Citizen re: government corruption ties with health care in national poll of issues of concern to Canadian voters, and NDP's "Ethics" Package Fails to Address Many Key Ethics Gaps in Federal Government

October 17 - London Free Press (printing Canadian Press wire story) re: Prime Minister Paul Martin violates his own promise, keeps sole control of appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada instead of giving opposition parties a say
October 17 - Canoe.ca website (printing Canadian Press wire story) re: Prime Minister Paul Martin violates his own promise, keeps sole control of appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada instead of giving oppositio parties a say

October 17 - Hill Times (in column and article) re: how the federal lobbying law is full of loopholes and ineffectively enforced (For details, see Democracy Watch coordinator Duff Conacher's op-ed by clicking on the following link: Lobbying Laws Endanger the Public - Allow for Secret, Unethical Lobbying)

October 17 - Hill Times (in letter-to-editor by whistleblower Allan Cutler) re: whistleblower protection Bill C-11's fatal flaws will discourage many people from reporting wrongdoing by federal government officials, and give no protection to politicians, political staff, government contractors and members of the public who witness wrongdoing

October 16 - Ottawa Citizen re: Canada's ambassador to the U.S. Frank McKenna owns stock and other financial holdings worth $11 million, including holdings in Bank of Montreal (which has U.S. operations), creating potential conflicts of interest that can only be resolved through selling his holdings

October 14 - Canadian Press (CP) wire story on Canoe.ca website re: Former Registrar of Lobbyists Who Failed to Catch Former Liberal Cabinet Minister David Dingwall's Lobbying Violations is Now Senior Advisor to Ethics Commissioner For MPs

October 12 - Globe and Mail (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Lobbying Laws Endanger the Public - Allow for Secret, Unethical Lobbying

October 12 - Ottawa Citizen re: Lobbyists Who Become MPs Should Be Banned from Having Power Over Their Lobbying Issues for Two Years

October 11 - Ottawa Citizen website article re: Federal Industry Minister Admits Democracy Watch is Correct, Lobbyist Regulation System is Completely Ineffective (For details about flaws in the Registrar's powers and position, see Democracy Watch's op-ed Enforcer of Lobbyists Code of Conduct Still Lacks Needed Independence and Resources (Hill Times, March 28, 2005))
October 11 - National Post (CanWest News Service article) re: Federal Industry Minister Admits Democracy Watch is Correct, Lobbyist Regulation System is Completely Ineffective (For details about flaws in the Registrar's powers and position, see Democracy Watch's op-ed Enforcer of Lobbyists Code of Conduct Still Lacks Needed Independence and Resources (Hill Times, March 28, 2005))
October 11 - Montreal Gazette (CanWest News Service article) re: Federal Industry Minister Admits Democracy Watch is Correct, Lobbyist Regulation System is Completely Ineffective (For details about flaws in the Registrar's powers and position, see Democracy Watch's op-ed Enforcer of Lobbyists Code of Conduct Still Lacks Needed Independence and Resources (Hill Times, March 28, 2005))
October 11 - Calgary Herald (CanWest News Service article) re: Federal Industry Minister Admits Democracy Watch is Correct, Lobbyist Regulation System is Completely Ineffective (For details about flaws in the Registrar's powers and position, see Democracy Watch's op-ed Enforcer of Lobbyists Code of Conduct Still Lacks Needed Independence and Resources (Hill Times, March 28, 2005))

October 10 - Hill Times re: whistleblower protection Bill C-11's fatal flaws will discourage many people from reporting wrongdoing by federal government officials, and give no protection to politicians, political staff, government contractors and members of the public who witness wrongdoing

October 8 - Ottawa Citizen re: federal Registrar of Lobbyists has no power to penalize former Liberal Cabinet minister David Dingwall even though Dingwall violated lobbying rules (For details about flaws in the Registrar's powers and position, see Democracy Watch's op-ed Enforcer of Lobbyists Code of Conduct Still Lacks Needed Independence and Resources (Hill Times, March 28, 2005))

October 6 - Law Times (Richard Cleroux's column) re: Group Files Court Challenge of Federal Ethics Commissioner, Registrar of Lobbyists

October 3 - Hill Times re: Requiring Meaningful Public Consultation More Important and Likely More Democratic than Electoral Reform

October-November issue - Dialogue magazine re: Better Banks Needed, Not Bigger Banks and Prime Minister Shouldn't Add to Unethical Senate, Switiching MPs Should Resign Their Seats

September 30 - Ottawa Citizen re: Group Files Court Challenge of Federal Ethics Commissioner, Registrar of Lobbyists

September 29 - Toronto Star re: Group Files Court Challenge of Federal Ethics Commissioner, Registrar of Lobbyists

September 29 - Canadian Press wire story on CTV.ca website re: Chief Electoral Officer Ignores Secret Donations Loophole in Election Reform Recommendations
September 29 - Canadian Press wire story on 940 News Radio (Montreal) website re: Chief Electoral Officer Ignores Secret Donations Loophole in Election Reform Recommendations

September 26 - Hill Times re: the changes the federal Liberal government has made to spending enforcement and transparency are too weak to prevent unfairness and corruption in government contracting processes

September 19 - Hill Times (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Fatal Flaws in Federal Access to Government Information System Must Be Corrected

September 21 - Windsor Star (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Better Banks Needed, Not Bigger Banks
September 20 - Brandon Sun (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Better Banks Needed, Not Bigger Banks
September 19 - Montreal Gazette (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Better Banks Needed, Not Bigger Banks
September 18 - Halifax Chronicle-Herald (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Better Banks Needed, Not Bigger Banks
September 16 - Ottawa Citizen (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Better Banks Needed, Not Bigger Banks

September 16 - National Post re: Ethics Commissioner again shows his poor judgement and lack of awareness of the legal requirements of his quasi-judicial position by stating that the federal sponsorship scandal could be viewed as either a "triumph of entrepreneurship" or a "triumph of theft"
September 16 - Ottawa Citizen re: Ethics Commissioner again shows his poor judgement and lack of awareness of the legal requirements of his quasi-judicial position by stating that the federal sponsorship scandal could be viewed as either a "triumph of entrepreneurship" or a "triumph of theft"

September 15 - Ottawa Sun re: Secret, Unlimited Donations Legal to Federal Election Candidates
September 15 - Edmonton Sun re: Secret, Unlimited Donations Legal to Federal Election Candidates
September 15 - Toronto Sun re: Secret, Unlimited Donations Legal to Federal Election Candidates

September 14 - Winnipeg Free Press re: in direction violation of federal ethics rules (which require ministers to wait two years before becoming a lobbyist), former federal Indian and Northern Affairs minister Robert Nault registered in July 2005 (1.5 years after leaving Cabinet) to lobby his old department and other federal departments

September 11 - Vancouver Province editorial re: Democracy Watch Should Be Celebrated by Canadians because it is holding governments accountable for all Canadians

September 7 - Ottawa Citizen re: Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew lets his former staff person, who is now a lobbyist registered to lobby Pettigrew's department, use his apartment in Paris for free
September 7 - Vancouver Province re: Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew lets his former staff person, who is now a lobbyist registered to lobby Pettigrew's department, use his apartment in Paris for free

August 31 - Globe and Mail (Canadian Press wire story) re: Justice Minister Irwin Cotler asks public to submit nominees for Supreme Court justice position that opens up in January 2006, but does nothing to remove selection process from Prime Minister's control as Prime Minister Paul Martin promised to do (NOTE: if you subscribe to the Globe and Mail, you can read the article by clicking on the following link - Article in Globe and Mail)
August 31 - Ottawa Sun (Canadian Press wire story) re: Justice Minister Irwin Cotler asks public to submit nominees for Supreme Court justice position that opens up in January 2006, but does nothing to remove selection process from Prime Minister's control as Prime Minister Paul Martin promised to do

August 21 - Calgary Sun (Column by Licia Corbella - also published in the Edmonton Sun) re: power of Prime Minister (and provincial premiers) to appoint, without any public or legislature review, thousands of people  heads of agencies, boards, tribunals, courts, commissions undermines freedoms of Canadians because it results in ruling party members, donors and supporters receiving better treatment

August 15 - Calgary Herald re: Calgary city political donation rules allow unlimited spending and allow councillors to keep donations they don't spend (unlike other large cities in Canada) so that Calgary city council is, essentially, the best government money can buy and always will be until the rules change

August 15 - Hill Times (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Liberals Inaction on Three Key Issues Reveals Their Lack of Concern About Government Accountability and Corporate Responsibility

August 15 - Hill Times re: proposed laws to require resignation and by-election when an MP leaves their party or switches parties, and Prime Minister Shouldn't Add to Unethical Senate, Switiching MPs Should Resign Their Seats

August-September issue - Dialogue magazine re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation and Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher's Op-Ed on Reaction to the Gomery Commission

August 8 - Hill Times re: Too large, too secret donations still allowed to federal parties and election candidates

August 8 - Hill Times re: Prime Minister Paul Martin's recent Senate appointments, and the need for Senate reform

August 8 - Law Times (Richard Cleroux's column) re: federal Liberal government's ongoing negligence in failing to strengthen the federal Access to Information Act despite promising to do so in 1994

August 6 - Globe and Mail re:  Wealthy interests still corrupt federal Liberals with $5,000 individual donations, despite new federal political donations system

July-August issue - Walrus magazine re: serious flaws in the federal Green Party's democratic reform and corporate responsibility sections of its 2004 election platform

July 13 - Kingston Whig-Standard re: city council meeting that was held behind closed-doors but should have been a meeting open to the public

July 11 - Hill Times re: bank loans to federal political parties violate federal ethics rules as they put party leaders in a conflict of interest on banking issues

July 7 - Business Edge magazine re: loopholes in system allow federal parties and politicians to be corrupted

July 7 - Ottawa Sun re: Unions and corporations both made large 2003 donations to the parties before political donation system changes
July 7 - Winnipeg Sun re: Unions and corporations both made large 2003 donations to the parties before political donation system changes

July 4 - Hill Times re: Bill C-15 Passes, But Federal Lobbyists Registration Act Still Has Loopholes, Enforcement Still Lacks Independence

July 2 - Ottawa Citizen reprint of Calgary Herald editorial re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation

July 2 - Globe and Mail re: profile of federal Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro

June 30 - Calgary Herald editorial re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation

June 30 - National Post re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation

June 29 - Globe and Mail.com website re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation (Globe and Mail online article (After early July, you will have to be Globe and Mail subscriber to view the article))

June 29 - National Post re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation
June 29 - Ottawa Citizen re: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Commissioner, Calls for Resignation

June 27 - Hill Times re: Bill C-15, which changes the Lobbyists Registration Act finally becomes law with Cabinet approval (two years after Bill C-15 was passed by Parliament) -- Act is now stronger, but still has fatal flaws

June 24 - National Post re: Federal Ethics Commissioner Grilled at Illegal Committee Hearing
June 24 - Ottawa Citizen re: Federal Ethics Commissioner Grilled at Illegal Committee Hearing

June 24 - Ottawa Citizen (Susan Riley's column) re: Federal Ethics Commissioner Grilled at Illegal Committee Hearing

June 23 - National Post re: Prime Minister Paul Martin's aide Scott Reid violated the federal ethics code by keeping secret allegations that then-Cabinet minister Judy Sgro had violated the federal ethics code
June 23 - Ottawa Citizen re: Prime Minister Paul Martin's aide Scott Reid violated the federal ethics code by keeping secret allegations that then-Cabinet minister Judy Sgro had violated the federal ethics code

June 22 - Maclean's magazine (based on CP wire story) re: Democracy Watch's Research and Advocacy Leads Opposition Parties to Call for Ethics Commissioner's Resignation

June 21 - CJAD Talk Radio website (Montreal) re: Finance Minister Ralph Goodale Uses Lame Excuses for His Failure to Release Bank Merger Review Process Guidelines (based on CP wire story)
June 21 - Mix 99.9 Radio (Toronto) website re: Finance Minister Ralph Goodale Uses Lame Excuses for His Failure to Release Bank Merger Review Process Guidelines (based on CP wire story)

June 21 - Mix 99.9 Radio (Toronto) website (based on CP wire story) re: Ethics Commissioner Ruling on Sgro Affair Biased, Flawed -- Avoids Many Key Issues

June 20 - Hill Times re: flaws in federal financial disclosure and decision removal system mean Belinda Stronach will be allowed to vote on issues that affect her financial interests

June 18 - National Post re: Democracy Watch's Research and Advocacy Leads Opposition Parties to Call for Ethics Commissioner's Resignation (you must be a subscriber to the National Post to access this article)

June 15 - Calgary Herald re: lack of limits on donations leaves city politicians in Alberta open to being corrupted by corporate and other special interest groups

June 13 - Hill Times re: Ethics Commissioner Must Rule on PMO Staffer, Fails To Fulfill Legal Duties By Refusing To Do So

June 13 - Hill Times re: First Quarterly Disclosure of Federal Political Party Donations Shows Undemocratic Secret Donations Still Dominate, Liberals the Choice of Wealthy Donors

June 8 - National Post re: Ethics Commissioner Must Rule on PMO Staffer, Fails To Fulfill Legal Duties By Refusing To Do So
June 8 - Ottawa Citizen re: Ethics Commissioner Must Rule on PMO Staffer, Fails To Fulfill Legal Duties By Refusing To Do So

June 6 - Hill Times re: First Quarterly Disclosure of Federal Political Party Donations Shows Undemocratic Secret Donations Still Dominate, Liberals the Choice of Wealthy Donors

June 6 - Calgary Herald re: the need for effective protection of anyone who "blows the whistle" on government and corporate wrongdoing in Canada

June 4 - Ottawa Citizen re: Senator Paul Massicotte owns part of a company that leases a building to the federal government, in violation of the Parliament of Canada Act and federal ethics rules

June-July issue - Dialogue magazine published Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher's Op-Ed on Reaction to the Gomery Commission

June 1 - Ottawa Citizen re: Paul Martin shuts out media from talk to senior public servants

May 31 - Globe and Mail re: First Quarterly Disclosure of Federal Political Party Donations Shows Undemocratic Sescret Donations Still Dominate, Liberals the Choice of Wealthy Donors (To see the Globe and Mail article (you must be a subscriber to the Globe and Mail), click here

May 26 - Ottawa Citizen re: Group Calls on Ethics Commissioner to Rule On Deal Making by Prime Minister, MPs and PMO Staffer

May 24 - Edmonton Journal (editorial board editorial) re: proposed ethics code for Senate contains more loopholes than rules, and contains false claim that Senate Ethics Officer is "independent" (in fact, the Senate Ethics Officer is almost completely under the control of a committee of senators)

May 23 - Ottawa Citizen re: proposed ethics code for Senate contains more loopholes than rules, and contains false claim that Senate Ethics Officer is "independent" (in fact, the Senate Ethics Officer is almost completely under the control of a committee of senators)
May 23 - National Post re: proposed ethics code for Senate contains more loopholes than rules, and contains false claim that Senate Ethics Officer is "independent" (in fact, the Senate Ethics Officer is almost completely under the control of a committee of senators)
May 23 - Edmonton Journal re: proposed ethics code for Senate contains more loopholes than rules, and contains false claim that Senate Ethics Officer is "independent" (in fact, the Senate Ethics Officer is almost completely under the control of a committee of senators)

May 23 - Hill Times re: proposed ethics code for Senate contains more loopholes than rules, and contains false claim that Senate Ethics Officer is "independent" (in fact, the Senate Ethics Officer is almost completely under the control of a committee of senators)

May 21 - Edmonton Sun (Mindy Jacobs column) re: Democracy Watch's campaign to clean-up the federal government

May 21 - Vancouver Sun (Barbara Yaffe column) re: Group Calls on Ethics Commissioner to Rule On Deal Making by Prime Minister, MPs and PMO Staffer

May 17 - Ottawa Citizen re: Liberals Let Secret Corporate Lobbying Continue, Fail to Make Bill C-15 Law and Watchdog Independent (Bill C-15 and related regulations have still not been passed by the federal Liberal Cabinet)

May 16 - Hill Times re: proposed ethics code for Senate contains more loopholes than rules, and contains false claim that Senate Ethics Officer is "independent" (in fact, the Senate Ethics Officer is almost completely under the control of a committee of senators)

May 16 - Western Standard magazine re: pattern of tax audits and deals raises questions whether Canada Revenue Agency makes audit decisions based on influence from Cabinet ministers

May 13 - National Post (John DeGoey's column in Financial Post section) re: need for systemic accountability reforms to protect investors

May 11 - Ottawa Citizen re: Ethics Commissioner Process Biased, Flawed -- Impartial Inquiry Needed into Sgro Affair
May 11 - National Post re: Ethics Commissioner Process Biased, Flawed -- Impartial Inquiry Needed into Sgro Affair

May 6 - Moncton Times & Transcript re: in 1998, before being elected to office in 2000, Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc contacted bureaucrat Chuck Guité (who oversaw scandalous sponsorship program ) to obtain grants and so should be investigated to determine whether he violated the federal lobbying law by not registering as a lobbyist

May 2 - Hill Times letter-to-the-editor re: In TV Appearances, Prime Minister and Opposition Party Leaders Try to Mislead Canadians

May 2 - Hill Times (Jennifer Curtis column) re: gaps in federal lobbying law that allowed Cabinet Minister (and former lobbyist) Jean Lapierre to arrange meetings with Cabinet ministers but not register as a lobbyist (because he was not paid for his services)

April 30 - Vancouver Sun (Barbara Yaffe column) re: profile of Democracy Watch

April 30 - National Post (Terence Corcoran column) re: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher's article in Corporate Knights magazine about measures needed to ensure corporations are accountable to individual investors

April 29 - Report on Business magazine (letter-to-the-editor by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: the magazine's corporate responsibility rankings are flawed because they don't take into account, when grading banks, loans and investments by banks to corporate sectors that are irresponsible

April 29 - Kingston Whig-Standard re: city council meeting that was held behind closed-doors but should have been a meeting open to the public

April 28 - Corporate Knights magazine (Article by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: measures needed to ensure corporations are accountable to individual investors

April 27 - Edmonton Sun re: Federal Liberals bribing Canadians with their own money by making several spending announcements in an attempt to win back support lost due to sponsorship scandal
April 27 - Winnipeg Sun re: Federal Liberals bribing Canadians with their own money by making several spending announcements in an attempt to win back support lost due to sponsorship scandal
April 27 - Ottawa Sun re: Federal Liberals bribing Canadians with their own money by making several spending announcements in an attempt to win back support lost due to sponsorship scandal

April 17 - Moncton Times & Transcript re: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher's Op-Ed on the Gomery Commission Inquiry and Reforms Needed to Clean-up the Federal Government

April 26 - National Post letter-to-the-editor by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: federal law limiting spending on advertising by non-political parties during election campaigns does not gag any so-called "third party" but instead only limits massive advertising campaigns by wealthy interests (in contrast to the claims made in an April 25, 2005 column by Gerry Nicholls of the National Citizen Coalition)

April 25 - Hill Times op-ed re: Federal Ethics Commissioner Continues Completely Ineffective Enforcement of Cabinet Ethics Rules

April 25 - Hill Times re: how the federal government's weak honesty, ethics, openness, political donations and waste prevention systems are the actual scandal, and strengthening the rules, enforcement and penalties in all of these systems is what is needed (not an election) to prevent future scandals similar to the sponsorship scandal

April 24 - Toronto Sun re: how the federal government's weak honesty, ethics, openness, political donations and waste prevention systems are the actual scandal, and strengthening the rules, enforcement and penalties in all of these systems is what is needed (not an election) to prevent future scandals similar to the sponsorship scandal
April 24 - Ottawa Sun re: how the federal government's weak honesty, ethics, openness, political donations and waste prevention systems are the actual scandal, and strengthening the rules, enforcement and penalties in all of these systems is what is needed (not an election) to prevent future scandals similar to the sponsorship scandal

April 17 - Montreal Gazette re: the government accountability systems for all Canadian governments are full of loopholes and have all produced scandalous behaviour as a result

April 17 - Toronto Star (Linda McQuaig's column) re: Democracy Watch is the lone voice pushing for needed reforms to clean-up the federal government, and the public needs to join the struggle

April 17 - Calgary Herald re: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher's Op-Ed on the Gomery Commission Inquiry and Reforms Needed to Clean-up the Federal Government

April 15 - National Post re: failure of new Ethics Commissioner to effectively enforce federal ethics rules for Cabinet ministers, ministerial staff, parliamentary secretaries and MPs
April 15 - Ottawa Citizen re: failure of new Ethics Commissioner to effectively enforce federal ethics rules for Cabinet ministers, ministerial staff, parliamentary secretaries and MPs

April 14 - Toronto Star re: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher's Op-Ed on the Gomery Commission Inquiry and Reforms Needed to Clean-up the Federal Government

April 4 - Hill Times re: failure of federal government to establish an independent, well-resourced commission to enforce the Lobbyists Code of Conduct,to ensure that the federal Lobbyists Registration Act is clear and enforceable, and to ensure effective enforcement of Cabinet ethics rules

April 1 - Epoch Times (weekly) re: collapse of Jetsgo airline and Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 31 - Globe and Mail re: Prime Minister Paul Martin sells access to himself for $5,000 per person at Liberal Party fundraising house party

March 31 - CP wire story (on CJAD Talk Radio website) published in Ottawa Citizen re: Bank Mergers in Canada Will Still Have Dangerous Negative Impacts

March 30 - CP wire story (on CJAD Talk Radio website) re: Bank Mergers in Canada Will Still Have Dangerous Negative Impacts

March 28 - Hill Times(letter-to-the-editor by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: failure of federal government to establish an independent, well-resourced commission to enforce the Lobbyists Code of Conduct

March 27 - Ottawa Citizen re: failure of federal government to establish an independent, well-resourced commission to enforce the Lobbyists Code of Conduct

March 24 - Epoch Times (weekly newspaper) re: collapse of Jetsgo airline and Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 21 - Hill Times (weekly newspaper covering federal government) Letter-to-the-editor re: Canadian Democratic Audit project

March 15 - Globe and Mail re: Group Calls on Federal Government to Help Establish Broad-Based Airline Passengers Watchdog

March 15 - Ottawa Citizen re: federal Ethics Commissioner refuses to make reasons public why Commissioner believes Former Finance Minister John Manley becoming a lobbyist now (just over one year after he left Cabinet) is not a violation of federal ethics rules which require former Cabinet ministers to not lobby the federal government for at least two years after they leave office, and in some cases prohibit lobbying forever

March 14 - Western Standard magazine re: Gomery Commission processes

March 10 - Guelph Mercury re: Ontario Government's Proposed Political Donation Changes Too Little, Too Late

March 10 - Inter Press Service News (international news website) re: Prime Minister Paul Martin's so-called "free" vote system for federal MPs is undemocratic and unethical because it allows MPs to vote according to their whim or as influenced by interest groups, instead of requiring them to reflect the will of their constituents

March 8 - Ottawa Citizen re: $10,000 per person fundraiser by Ontario Liberals shows how Ontario's political donations system allows wealthy interests to have undue influence over the Ontario government

March 8 - Ottawa Citizen re: Former Finance Minister John Manley becomes a lobbyist in violation of federal ethics rules which require former Cabinet ministers to not lobby the federal government for at least two years after they leave office, and in some cases prohibit lobbying forever
March 8 - National Post re: Former Finance Minister John Manley becomes a lobbyist in violation of federal ethics rules which require former Cabinet ministers to not lobby the federal government for at least two years after they leave office, and in some cases prohibit lobbying forever

March 7 - Hill Times (letter-to-the-editor by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: failure of federal government to address conflicting measures in proposed regulations under Bill C-15, which changes the Lobbyists Registration Act

February 28 - Hill Times (letter-to-the-editor by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: former Citizenship and Immigration Minister Judy Sgro was not forced to resign by allegations of ethics violations, and she is being investigated by a law firm hired by the federal Ethics Commissioner, a law firm that is a major donor to the federal Liberal Party and Paul Martin's leadership campaign

February-March issue - Dialogue magazine re: need for changes to Bill C-11 to ensure that whistleblowers who report wrongdoing will be effectively protected

February 21 - Windsor Star (reprinted in National Post) re: editorial board editorial supporting Democracy Watch's proposals to extend federal access-to-information law to all government and publicly funded institutions, and to give federal Information Commissioner power to order the release of documents

February 20 - Ottawa Citizen re: 2 federal Conservative MPs who accepted free Grey Cup football tickets claim (but refuse to name) that several Liberal MPs also accepted the free tickets

February 15 - Ottawa Citizen re: 5 federal Conservative MPs accepted free Grey Cup football tickets for themselves and their guests from the Ottawa lobbyist for Bell Globemedia (which owns CTV and the Globe and Mail) and Telus Corp.
February 15 - National Post re: 5 federal Conservative MPs accepted free Grey Cup football tickets for themselves and their guests from the Ottawa lobbyist for Bell Globemedia (which owns CTV and the Globe and Mail) and Telus Corp.

February 14 - Maclean's magazine re: letter to the editor pointing out flaws in Peter Newman's article

February 4 - Calgary Herald re: public utilities donating to municipal politicians who oversee the utilities

February 3 - Hour.ca magazine (Montreal) re: Federal Bill C-11 Not Strong Enough to Ensure Protection of Whistleblowers

February 1 - Straight Goods on-line newspaper (opinion piece) re: Many Changes Needed Before Canada Will be a Democracy

January 27 - Georgia Straight (Vancouver weekly newspaper) re: Competition Bureau must change its basis for reviewing media ownership concentration

January 24 - Hill Times re: failure of federal government to address conflicting measures in proposed regulations under Bill C-15, which changes the Lobbyists Registration Act

January 22 - Ottawa Citizen re: Paul Martin's reaction to violation of federal ethics rules by regulatory agency Transportation Safety Board member Jim Walsh, appointed by Prime Minister Paul Martin, when he attended the Liberal Caucus Christmas party

January 20 - Ottawa Citizen re: violation of federal ethics rules by regulatory agency Transportation Safety Board member Jim Walsh, appointed by Prime Minister Paul Martin, when he attended the Liberal Caucus Christmas party

January 16 - Le Devoir re: unethical ties between Prime Minister Paul Martin and corporate lobbyists

January 13 - Georgia Straight (Vancouver weekly newspaper) re: Appointment of Frank McKenna as Canada's Ambassador to the U.S. a Sign of Corporate-Driven Federal Government

January 12 - Ottawa Citizen (Susan Riley column) re: gaps in ethics rules and enforcement in federal government

January 11 - Halifax Chronicle Herald re: 2004 federal election campaign donations that are higher than legal limits to Conservative MP Peter MacKay

January 11 - Moncton Times and Transcript re: 2004 federal election campaign donations that are higher than legal limits to Green Party candidate Mario Lanteigne

January 11 - Inter Press Service News (international news website) re: Democracy Watch Questions Canada's Role in Iraq Elections

January 10 - Hill Times (op-ed by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher) re: Many Changes Needed Before Canada Will be a Democracy

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GOVERNMENT HEARINGS

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2005

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May 11 - Duff Conacher presented Democracy Watch's proposals for reforms needed to make banks and other financial institutions effectively accountable at a Consumer Roundtable of the federal Department of Finance beginning the consultations for the 2006 review process of financial institution laws

March 29 - Duff Conacher presented Democracy Watch's proposals for reforms needed to democratize the federal government at a consultation "roundtable" in Toronto, Canada

November 17 - Duff Conacher spoke by teleconference to a communications class at Simon Fraser University about the undemocratic, unethical flaws in Canada's federal government, and how to advocate effectively

November 1 - Duff Conacher spoke in Ottawa to a group of citizen group leaders from Russia on how lobbying by citizen groups works in Canada, and the state of democracy in Canada, as part of the Governance Advisory and Exchange Program (GAEP) of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

October 30 - Duff Conacher spoke at the Ontario Health Coalition "From Good to Better: Revisioning Hospitals as a Vital Part of the Public Health System" conference in Toronto on how a citizen watchdog group over Canada's health care system could be formed through a low-cost, effective method that has worked in the U.S. for forming watchdog groups over utility companies

October 28 - Duff Conacher spoke at the Innovative Solutions for Our Survival: Connecting Climate Change to Social Justice event at Ryerson University in Toronto (co-sponsored by Democracy Watch and the Centre for Social Innovation, CAW - Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy, Corporate Knights magazine, Grassroots, rabble.ca, and the Toronto Environmental Alliance)

September 24 - Duff Conacher presented Democracy Watch's assessment of how to lobby governments to the Board of Directors of the National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of Canada (NOIVMC)

June 1 - Duff Conacher presented Democracy Watch's proposals for increasing corporate responsibility in Canada at Corporate Knights magazine's "Reality Check on Corporate Social Responsibility" conference in Toronto

March 21 - Duff Conacher presented Democracy Watch's assessment of how to lobby Parliament to the University of Ottawa's Executive MBA class in Ottawa, Canada

February 15 - Duff Conacher presented Democracy Watch's assessment of the state of democracy in Canada and how careful Canada and other countries must be when attempting to "export" democracy to other countries at the World Affairs Conference 2005 (a high-school student conference) in Toronto, Canada

January 26 - Duff Conacher presented Democracy Watch's audit of the state of democracy in Canada at the North American Workshop of the Council for a Community of Democracies in Washington, D.C.