Sincerely,
Duff Conacher, Coordinator
Democracy Watch
P.S. Democracy Watch needs your support as the only citizen group in Canada working on government ethics and money in politics issues.
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HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ETHICAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT --SUPPORT 1ST-EVER COURT CASE and TELL PARLIAMENT IT'S TIME FOR A STRONG ETHICS LAW!
Action Alert from Democracy Watch re: Enforcement of Federal Ethics Rules
BACKGROUND ON 1ST-EVER FEDERAL ETHICS COURT CASE
Democracy Watch has launched the 1st-ever court case challenging rulings by the federal Ethics Counsellor Howard Wilson.
The Ethics Counsellor's four rulings responded to complaints filed by Democracy Watch about corporate lobbyists working for or donating to, and at the same time lobbying, Cabinet ministers and other politicians. Democracy Watch believes that such relationships put the politicians in a conflict of interest that violates federal ethics rules.
The Ethics Counsellor has no independence from the Prime Minister, and has gone so far as to claim that the only way a lobbyist could put a politician in a conflict of interest is if the lobbyist enslaved the politician!
If this court case succeeds, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, John Manley, Allan Rock, Sheila Copps and a dozen high-powered corporate lobbyists will all be found guilty of violating ethics rules, it will become illegal for lobbyists to work for, fundraise for, or give gifts to politicians. In addition, the federal government will be forced to set up an independent ethics enforcement system.
Because of the high costs of court cases, your support is needed to pursue this court challenge. Your support is also needed for researching, filing, and pursuing many more ethics complaints against federal and provincial politicians and lobbyists. Please send your donation to the following address:
Democracy Watch (Ethics Court Cases)
P.O. Box 821, Stn. B
Ottawa, Canada
K1P 5P9
You can find more information about what you will receive if you become a supporter on the following webpage:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/support.html
You can see a summary of the 1st-ever ethics court case on the following webpage:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsMay2303.html
Thank you for your support of this 1st-ever ethics case, the only effective step being taken in Canada to hold federal politicians and lobbyists accountable for ethics rule violations, and to force the federal government to set up an effective ethics enforcement system.
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BACKGROUND ON CAMPAIGN FOR STRONG FEDERAL ETHICS LAW]
Prime Minister Chrétien introduced in Parliament, finally, draft proposals in Bill C-34 that include ethics rules for MPs and Senators, and the creation of an independent, fully empowered Ethics Commissioner to enforce ethics rules for Ministers, MPs and Senators.
However, the proposals are not as strong as needed to ensure politicians act ethically, and do not do anything about enforcement of ethics rules for public servants.
In addition, the federal government changed the Lobbyists Registration Act in June 2003 to require more corporate lobbyists to register, but the changes still leave key gaps in the law that allow secret lobbying and unethical activities by lobbyists.
On both lobbying and ethics reforms, the federal government has not heard from citizens or citizen groups enough to counter resistance by politicians and lobbying by corporate lobbyists. Canadians need to tell the government they want strong ethics and lobbying rules, and strict enforcement of the rules (including whistleblower protection).
You can see all the details about how you can help push to strengthen Bill C-34, and ensure it is passed, on the following webpage:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/actethic.htm (includes a sample letter to send to your MP and the Prime Minister)
You can see all the information about the Government Ethics Campaign on the following webpage:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/ethicdir.html
Thank you for your support for a strong, effectively enforced federal ethics law, including strong whistleblower protection.
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Note: http://www.dwatch.ca/ca...
http://www.dwatch.ca/ca...
http://www.dwatch.ca/ca...
http://www.dwatch.ca/ca...
Stumble It!
George Radwanski is a good example: He forged documents, collected money in lieu of taking a vacation, even though he TOOK the vacation, and lied about other items he was on the hook for.
I can guarantee he is not the ONLY politician to do so. Ontario, over the period of Mike Harris/Ernie Eves had a few politicians that spent money like it was their own, like shooting fish in a barrel.
I think there are many out there that agree with me when I say they should be charged and if found guilty, spend some time in jail.
If I steal, lie, forge documents, etc., guess where I\'m going ?
How come the double-standard ? These people are well paid, and are in a position of trust, so it becomes even more serious. A poor person stealing a loaf of bread is quite different from a person padding his/her expense account.
Time for a little justice, don\'t you think ?
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"Arrogance in Politics is unacceptable"
Jim Callaghan
Minden, Ontario
705-286-1860
www.misterc.ca
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Dave Ruston
Prime Minister Jean Chretien
c/o Government of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Attention: Prime Minister, Elected Officials, Legislators, Senators, Members of Parliament, and Committee Members
Re: Ethics in Canadian Politics
Dear Ministers of Canada
I have some very serious concerns with the present laws and policies towards lobbyists, and ethics in general within the federal government. It is not enough to keep telling the Canadian public that the ethics minister has said ‘everything is above board‘. The Canadian people deserve strict laws which ensure that ‘everything is above board’ and an independent ethics minister to police the people’s interests.
We are being bombarded with stories of one political figure or another receiving gifts, or issuing contracts to friends or lobbyist group, only to be reassured that this is acceptable. The purpose of a democracy is to hear the people’s needs and to create policy which supports the people’s requirements. The reports we hear from Ottawa are all about the needs of the politicians and their corporate friends. When will the government represent the people?
We need strong ethics in government to end the perception of abuse of the public purse, we need an independent ethics minister to report to the people, and have the freedom to investigate all complaints. If those complaints are not addressed in a timely fashion, then the people ought to have recourse to pursue those complaints in our courts. Lobbyist groups need to be regulated and any loopholes concerning the rules need to be eliminated. Our elected officials cannot be seen to be catering to large corporations or their personal agendas, they are elected to run the country on behalf of the citizens of the country, for the benefit of those citizens. It is horrific to even think that any elected official has the ability to serve themselves, their family or their friends first, the people must be the first priority in government!
We were promised by Prime Minister Jean Chretien that changes would be made in the area of ethics in government, but I cannot see that those changes have been made. Promises seem to be a policy in political campaigns, never meant to be taken seriously and it is time that promises were kept! The ethics of our elected officials and government portfolios must reflect very high standards and no person should be above the law in any position held in government.
I believe that the entire issue of poor ethics in this country’s political system is eroding the country in a very negative way. I believe, we are on a path of destruction of the very offices which are intended to be beyond secrecy, they are intended to be open to the public they serve and the ethics minister ought to be policing these matters thoroughly. If the people lose confidence in their government, their elected officials, we will have mayhem. We must remove all suspicion from political figures through complete openness in all matters concerning the public purse. No political figure should be permitted to profit from their association with members of corporations, lobby groups and vice versa. All politicians must be held accountable for their promises, their actions and their decisions regarding this country.
In my opinion, it is paramount to the future of democracy and this country’s continued prosperity to remove all perceived doubt about decisions made on behalf of the people, no hint of favoritism, or patronage, no corporate campaign donation which later amount to contracts delivered to those corporations. No interference with the ethics minister by any member of parliament, no secret gifts, donations or vacations.
I urge the ministers representing Canada in any capacity to rise to the occasion, strengthen the ethics laws in this country so that all transactions are above reproach, above suspicion, or perceived suspicion of wrong doing. Those who speak out on these infractions ought to be protected and commended for revealing any breaches in the manner in which public money is distributed. I understand that Bill C-34 is being drafted and revised and I strongly urge those involved to support strict laws to protect the public interests and to bring all representatives of the people to a standard of accountability which leaves no doubt as to the ethics of this country!
I ask that you distribute this letter to all committee members and I look forward to your response.
Yours truly
C.Whelan Costen