NEWS RELEASE: Federal Conservatives' Proposed Changes Will Increase Disclosure and Ethics Requirements, But Secret and Unethical Lobbying Will Still Be Legal Until Other Huge Loopholes Are Closed (August 5, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Calgary's city election donation limit of $5,000 is too high, allows wealthy to buy influence with candidates (Calgary Herald, July 18, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Low voter turnout in Calgary elections, as in most Canadian city elections, give well-known candidates a chance to win (Calgary Herald, July 18, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Failure of federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson to maintain Conservative Cabinet minister's public disclosure statement accurately more clear evidence of Commissioner's negligent enforcement record (Canada.com and 12 other CanWest News service newspapers (all publishing Winnipeg Free Press article), July 17, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: New Brunswick coalition releases second democracy report card on provincial parties' election platforms (Daily Gleaner and Times and Transcript (New Brunswick), July 17, 2010) -- To see Telegraph Journal article on the same subject, click here

RADIO PHONE-IN SHOW: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher on the loopholes and flaws in Canada's democracy (CBC Maritime Noon phone-in show (starts 20 min. into show), July 15, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Loopholes in ethics rules allow MPs and Senators to keep active business and financial interests (Canada.com and National Post "Full Comment" blog, July 14, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Ethics Commissioner will investigate Conservative Cabinet minister's action in relation to former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer -- Commissioner should be investigating many other Conservative government representatives (CTV.ca and 16 other media outlets across Canada (all publishing a CanadianPress.com wire article), July 6, 2010)

OP-ED: Parliament has problems, but not the problems many commentators claim it has (Hill Times, July 5, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conservatives continue patronage and crony appointments, and to break promise to establish Public Appointments Commission (Hill Times, July 5, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Loopholes in federal ethics rules allow MPs to have other jobs and businesses, and to lobby for them (CTV.ca and 36 other media outlets across Canada (all publishing CanadianPress.com wire article, July 5, 2010) -- To see a related news release, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: New Brunswick Conservatives promise more collaborative government if elected in September provincial election (New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, July 1, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: New Brunswick coalition pushes provincial parties to promise honesty-in-politics law in fall election platforms (New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, June 30, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: New Brunswick Conservatives promise dozens of democratic reforms, but details needed (New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, June 26, 2010)

NEWS RELEASE: CSIS Director's Disclosure of Foreign Influence Over Canadian Government Officials Yet Another Reason To Ban Secret, Unethical Donations and Lobbying Across Canada -- If politicians across Canada do not close loopholes and strengthen enforcement, corruption of governments will continue to be easy (June 23, 2010)

LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: Auditor General should not have compromised -- is legally required to audit expenses of MPs (and Senators) (Hill Times, June 21, 2010)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Federal Conservatives broke their 2006 election promises on open government, but opposition parties also to blame for ongoing government secrecy (Globe and Mail, June 19, 2010, Hill Times, June 28, 2010)

OP-ED: Oliphant Commission and recent scandals show clear need for another Federal Accountability Act (Rabble.ca, June 16, 2010, Hill Times, June 21, 2010, TheMarkNews.com, June 23, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Auditor General should not compromise -- is legally required to audit all public money spent by MPs/House and Senators/Senate (Toronto Star, June 16, 2010)

NEWS RELEASE: Dangerously Unethical Loopholes in MP Ethics Rules Mean They Can Lobby For Themselves, Family Members and Anyone They Choose (June 14, 2010)

NEWS RELEASE: Justice Oliphant Recommends Closing Only 4 of More Than 20 Loopholes in Ethics Rules For Cabinet Ministers and Senior Government Officials, and Correcting 14 of More Than 20 Flaws in Ethics Enforcement System -- Commission ignores many loopholes that allow for secret donations and lobbying and unethical actions by others in federal politics  (May 31, 2010) -- NOTE: Covered by 45 media outlets across Canada

WEBSITE ARTICLE: New Brunswick Liberals again promise, and Conservatives promise for first time, to require disclosure of provincial lobbying (New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, May 27, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Governments must require banks they do business with to serve everyone fairly and well (NOW Magazine, May 27, 2010)

NEWS RELEASE: Federal Court of Appeal Ruling Means Harper Conservatives Broke Their 2006 Election Promise to Fix Election Dates -- Democracy Watch Will Apply For Leave to Appeal to Supreme Court of Canada (May 26, 2010) - JOIN Facebook Group To Protest Another Snap Federal Election

NEWS RELEASE: Democracy Watch in Court Today -- Appealing Federal Court Ruling That Legalized Conservative Prime Minister Harper's September 2008 Snap Federal Election Call Despite Fixed-Election-Date Law (May 25, 2010) NOTE: Covered by 40 media outlets across Canada

WEBSITE ARTICLE: MPs' attendance records in Parliament kept secret, violating the public's right to know whether they are doing their job (Canoe.ca and 7 SunMedia newspapers across Canada, May 25, 2010)

LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: Auditor General has not only the power, but actually a legal duty, to audit MPs and Parliament (Hill Times, May 24, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Auditor General not only has clear power to audit MPs and Parliament, she is legally required to do the audit every few years (Globe and Mail, May 19, 2010)

MEDIA ALERT: May 25th Hearing of Appeal of Federal Court Ruling That Legalized Conservative Prime Minister Harper's September 2008 Snap Federal Election Call Despite Fixed-Election-Date Law (May 19, 2010) -- To see related Canoe.ca article (published by 5 SunMedia newspapers across Canada), click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Auditor General has clear power and legally required mandate to audit MPs (Halifax Chronicle Herald, May 18, 2010)

NEWS RELEASE: Democracy Watch Would Challenge Federal Ethics Commissioner's Error-Filled Ruling on Lisa Raitt Fundraiser in Court, But Such Court Challenges are Illegal -- Group Calls For Dismissal of Ethics Commissioner, and Changes to Strengthen Federal Ethics Laws (May 17, 2010)

RADIO PHONE-IN SHOW: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher on the loopholes and flaws in Canada's democracy (CBC Maritime Noon phone-in show (starts 15 min. into show), May 17, 2010)

LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: Federal Liberal and Conservative proposed changes won't make secret, unethical lobbying illegal (Hill Times, May 17, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal political parties refuse to allow Auditor General to audit spending by MPs, raising questions of what they are hiding (Toronto Star, May 14, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Fixed election dates with election spending regulations for long time period before voting day are more fair for everyone (New Brunswick Times and Transcript, May 10, 2010)

LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: Federal Liberal and Conservative proposed changes won't make secret, unethical lobbying illegal (Hill Times, May 10, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams seeks third term in 2011 fixed-date provincial election, but loopholes allow him to escape accountability (CTV.ca and 26 other media outlets across Canada (including the Globe and Mail, Winnipeg Free Press, Metro newspapers and many radio station websites, May 10, 2010)

NEWS RELEASE: Democracy Watch Files Complaints With Federal Ethics Commissioner About Possible Preferential Treatment of Rahim Jaffer by Conservative Government Representatives (May 6, 2010)

OP-ED: Weak ethics rules and enforcement undermine everyone in Canadian politics (Hill Times, May 3, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Democracy Watch highlights loopholes in federal laws and enforcement that continue to allow for secret, unethical lobbying and advising by former politicians and government officials (Hill Times, April 26, 2010)

PODCAST INTERVIEW: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher interviewed about Democracy Watch's history of success (This Magazine, April 26, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Democracy Watch points out loopholes in federal lobbying disclosure law revealed by Rahim Jaffer affair (CTV.ca and 10 other media outlets across Canada (all publishing Canadian Press wire article), April 23, 2010) -- To see related news release, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: MPs grill federal Ethics Commissioner about Helena Guergis affair (Halifax Chronicle Herald, April 23, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal government's waste prevention rules and watchdog agencies too weak to prevent waste (Toronto Sun and 6 other Sunmedia newspapers across Canada, April 20, 2010)

PODCAST INTERVIEW: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher interviewed on flaws and loopholes in federal government's access-to-information system (Full Comment podcast, National Post, April 16, 2010)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Federal Conservatives broke their 2006 election promises on open government, but opposition parties also to blame for ongoing government secrecy (Calgary Sun, Edmonton Sun and Vancouver Sun, April 15-17, 2010)

RADIO INTERVIEW: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher points out loopholes and flaws in federal ethics and lobbying rules and enforcement system highlighted by the Helena Guergis/Rahim Jaffer situation, some of which Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson admits exist (CBC Radio's The Current (Part 1), April 15, 2010) -- To see related Democracy Watch news release, click here, and to see related CBC.ca article, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Recent Cases Highlight How Federal Ethics and Lobbying Commissioners Continue to Fail to Enforce Laws Effectively -- Commons committee must question both commissioners (April 14, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson creates secret process to hide Cabinet ministers' conflicts of interest, raising questions about compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act (Halifax Chronicle Herald, April 13, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Loopholes allow for secret, unethical federal lobbying, mainly by corporations (StraightGoods.ca, April 13, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson and federal Conservative Cabinet Minister Gail Shea fail to ensure declaration of recusal is in Shea's public file to alert public to conflict of interest (Halifax Chronicle Herald, April 12, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Former federal Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer faces allegations of influence-peddling, failing to register as a lobbyist, allegations he denies (Globe and Mail, April 9, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: New Brunswick coalition switches from opposing NB Power sale deal to pushing for democratic reforms (Fredericton Daily Gleaner, April 9, 2010)

TV NEWS PIECE: Former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer and his spouse, Conservative Cabinet minister Helena Guergis, face allegations of improper activities, allegations they deny (CBC TV's The National, April 8, 2010)

TV INTERVIEW: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher on allegations concerning former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer and his spouse, Conservative Cabinet minister Helena Guergis (CBC News Network's Power and Politics show, April 8, 2010 -- Interview begins at 11-minute mark and ends at 17-minute mark of the show)

NEWS RELEASE: Federal Commissioner of Lobbying Fails in Past Year to Rule on Five Longstanding Ethics Complaints - Along with Federal Ethics Commissioner Also Taking Too Long to Rule on Complaints About Fundraising Events Held by Federal Conservatives Rick Dykstra and Lisa Raitt Last Fall (April 8, 2010) -- To see Canoe.ca article about the release, click here

TV PANEL: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher on TV show panel on Senate reform (TVO's The Agenda with Steve Paikin, March 23, 2010) -- Click on Senate Reform link on the page

NEW RELEASE: Democracy Watch Applauds Opposition Parties Actions on Disclosure of Afghan Detainee Documents, Prorogation and MP Mailings, But More Effective Measures Needed (March 22, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: At protest of thousands against NB Power deal on Saturday, Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher calls the deal a violation of key democratic government principles (Saint John Telegraph Journal, March 22, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher urges New Brunswickers to go from protesting proposed sale of NB Power on to pushing for democratic reforms to prevent future similar bad government decisions (Fredericton Daily Gleaner, March 20, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: At protest of New Brunswickers against proposed sale of NB Power company, Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher as keynote speaker raises questions about ethics of deal, and urges voters to push for key democratic reforms to stop similar future bad government decisions (CBC.ca, March 20, 2010)

NEWS RELEASE: Democracy Watch Calls on All Federal Parties to Reach Agreement on Eliminating "10-Percenter" Mailings to Save More Than $10 Million -- Board of Internal Economy (BOIE) Must Have Consensus To Change Rules, And Should Hold Public Meetings To Discuss "10-Percenter" and All Issues (March 15, 2010)

NEWS RELEASE: Democracy Watch Appeals Federal Court Ruling That Legalized Conservative Prime Minister Harper's September 2008 Snap Federal Election Call Despite Fixed-Election-Date Law -- Case Will Be Heard By Federal Court of Appeal on May 25, 2010 -- Group Calls on PM Harper To Promise Not To Call Another Snap Election (March 10, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Supreme Court of Canada, not one former Supreme justice, should rule on disclosure of documents about Afghan detainees (CBC.ca (Inside Politics blog), March 5, 2010) -- To see related National Post blog posting, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Supreme Court of Canada, not former justice, should rule on disclosure of documents about Afghan detainees (CanadianPress.com wire article also published by 23 other media outlets across Canada, March 5, 2010)

RADIO INTERVIEW: Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher on how Canada's federal government is far from most democratic or accountable government in the world (Jeff Farias show (U.S. Talk Radio), March 3, 2010)

NEWS RELEASE: Canadian Federal Government Far From Owning the Podium on Democracy and Government Accountability -- Drops to 11th in Global Integrity's New Annual Report -- Another Accountability Act Needed (March 1, 2010)

YouTUBE VIDEO: Duff Conacher on how to resolve the dispute over the disclosure of all documents about Afghan detainees (StraightGoods.ca, March 1, 2010) -- To see related website article, click here

YouTUBE VIDEO: Duff Conacher on the ethics of lobbying federal Canadian politicians (StraightGoods.ca, February 24, 2010)

LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: Federal Conservatives broke their promise to make nomination races democratic, but opposition parties and MPs also to blame for control by party leaders of MPs (Hill Times, February 22, 2010 and National Post, February 17, 2010)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conservative Minister of Democratic Reform refuses to make his briefing book public (Winnipeg Free Press, Canada.com and 11 CanWest News Service newspapers across Canada, February 13, 2010)

NEWS RELEASE: Democracy Watch Calls on Federal Conservatives and Opposition MPs to Refer Afghan Detainee Document and Committee Testimony Disclosure Issues to Supreme Court of Canada for Ruling (February 10, 2010) -- To see related article in Le Devoir (in French), click here

RADIO PIECE: Examination of the federal Conservatives' democratic reform and accountability record featuring Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher (CBC Radio's The Current Part 3, February 4, 2010 or click here) -- To see Democracy Watch's Report Card on the Conservatives' record, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Ontario judges hold unjustifiably secret training session on trial management issues (Toronto Star, February 4, 2010)