Democracy Watch's blog

If Canada wants to keep big money out of politics, just look to Quebec

Democracy Watch — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 19:06:59 +0000

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Some politicians and commentators have recently made proposals that won't stop big money from corrupting Canadian politics.

The most questionable claim is that the federal law is the best model. While the federal government banned corporate and union donations in 2007, its $3,050 annual donation limit for individuals ($1,525 to a party and the same amount to its riding associations) is much more than an average Canadian can afford.

How Conservatives changed 'Reform Act' into the 'Hope for Reform Act'

Democracy Watch — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 18:14:34 +0000

Conservative MPs recently had an historic, unprecedented chance to throw off their chains and empower themselves and all MPs, and political party riding associations, to represent voters. A House Committee was reviewing Bill C-586, known as the Reform Act, which takes away many party leader powers (as a majority of voters want).

Instead, the Conservative MPs (who hold a majority of seats on the Committee) changed the bill into the "Hope for Reform Act" by taking out clear restrictions and replacing them with measures that allow MPs and parties to choose if they want to restrict any of their party leader's powers.

Will House Committee empower MPs, voters with Reform Act?

Democracy Watch — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 18:25:36 +0000

Will the House Committee strengthen the Reform Act as most Canadians want, or will it weaken it into a "Hope for Reform Act?"

As the Procedure and House Affairs Committee reviews the Reform Act (Bill C-586) this week, Democracy Watch is calling for measures that restrict the powers of party leaders and free and empower MPs in key, reasonable ways, as a majority of Canadians want.

Very unfortunately, there are signs the Committee may instead bend over to please party leaders by weakening the bill so much that it’s name should be changed to the "Hope for Reform Act."

Conservatives' changes only go halfway to making so-called Fair Elections Act actually fair

Democracy Watch — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:03:09 +0000

The federal Conservatives are finally backing off on some of the measures in their proposed so-called "Fair Elections Act" (Bill C-23). Minister for Democratic Reform Poilievre is trying to claim he has listened with an open mind, but this is yet another misleading spin statement from him about the bill.

The truth is much more that playing games with democratic voting issues was hurting the Conservatives with their soft supporters, and with swing voters, and they realized they would only recover by compromising.

However, the Conservatives are not proposing enough changes to make the Fair Elections Act, or federal elections, actually fair.

Former Conservative Cabinet Minister Chuck Strahl very likely violating federal ethics law

Democracy Watch — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 21:04:20 +0000

Today, Democracy Watch has filed a complaint letter with federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson requesting that she launch an inquiry into former Conservative Cabinet minister Chuck Strahl’s activities as the Chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) since June 2012, and his work with Enbridge and other clients since he left Cabinet in May 2011.

Senate scandal review needs independence, full clean-up plan

Democracy Watch — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:23:45 +0000

Claims, counterclaims, spin, counterspin -- what's a person interested in truth and justice in the Senate scandal supposed to do? Here's how to ensure all the evidence comes out about the Senate scandals, and all wrongdoers are held accountable, and this kind of mess can't happen again.

The first problem is that the various senator's cases are currently in the hands of the RCMP, and also the Commissioner of Canada Elections (concerning Senator Duffy and Senator Wallin's election campaign activities for the Conservatives).

Group will file ethics, police complaints about corporate sponsorship of Council of the Federation meeting

Democracy Watch — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 15:48:49 +0000

Democracy Watch announced today that it will file complaints with every provincial and territorial ethics/integrity commissioner about the benefits every premier is receiving from various corporations who are sponsoring the Council of the Federation meeting, and will also ask the police to investigate as the premiers are directly selling access to themselves at the meeting, given the Criminal Code anti-bribery measures.

Transparency needed to ensure proper charges and prosecution in Wright-Duffy cases

Democracy Watch — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 14:30:17 +0000

Today, Democracy Watch called for transparency in the Wright-Duffy situation in order to ensure that Canadians can be confident that those making decisions relating to charges and prosecution are fully independent and cannot be influenced by the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister’s Office, or any federal politician.

The RCMP recently revealed that the Prime Minister’s former Chief of Staff, Nigel Wright, gave Senator Mike Duffy $90,000 in return for two things, which means that it is fair to say that Wright should be charged and prosecuted for bribing Senator Duffy, and Senator Duffy for taking the bribe.

More than 15 million adult Canadians want to move toward an elected Head of State -- so let's get the conversation started

Democracy Watch — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 17:57:31 +0000

A country’s Head of State is not just a hollow symbol of old history. The person represents the people of a country -- their values and common purpose, their sense of unity, their loyalty to each other and their national pride.

A survey of more than 2,000 Canadians conducted by Harris-Decima in February 2013 found that a majority of Canadians (55%) want to change to a democratically chosen Canadian Head of State, while only 34% want to continue with a member of the British royal family.

Trudeau situation and MP moonlighting shows new rules are needed

Democracy Watch — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 19:38:09 +0000

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Justin Trudeau's speaking fees affair, and the Senate and MP expense and ethics scandals, all reveal how negligent federal politicians have been in establishing strong, clear rules for their jobs and ethics. And as many other ongoing scandals reveal, politicians across Canada have been equally negligent.

PMO/PCO dodging ATI request for number of times Ethics Commissioner has contacted them since 2007

Democracy Watch — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:06:36 +0000

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch released the response from the Prime Minister’s Office/Privy Council Office that dodges and delays responding to the Access to Information Act request for the number of times federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson has contacted the PMO/PCO since beginning her job in July 2007. Democracy Watch also released the complaint it filed with the Information Commissioner about this unjustifiable delay, and called for clear changes to ensure effective ethics rules and enforcement in Canada.

Ethics Commissioner should find Nigel Wright and Mike Duffy guilty right now

Democracy Watch — Fri, 31 May 2013 15:25:45 +0000

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The Ethics Commissioner has covered up twice already for Nigel Wright -- but public evidence is so clear another cover-up would be an even bigger scandal.

The Senate Committee controls whether a Senate Ethics Officer can investigate, and the Committee can overrule her rulings

Biased, lapdog investigations mean cover-up of Senate scandal likely, public inquiry needed

Democracy Watch — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:17:11 +0000

Biased, lapdog investigations mean cover-up of Senate scandal most likely outcome and public inquiry will be needed – Wright, Duffy should be found guilty of violating ethics rules, and possibly other laws

Ethics Commissioner has covered up twice already for Nigel Wright, Senate Ethics Officer is controlled by a Senate committee, Auditor General is failing to do audit, Elections Canada has secret, questionable enforcement record, and even the RCMP’s independence is questionable

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch set out the details of why biased, lapdog investigations mean that a cover-up of the Senate expenses scandal is the most likely outcome, and why a public inquiry will likely be needed to ensure a full investigation.

Green Party receives C- best grade of bad overall grades in Report Card on British Columbia Parties’ Democratic Good Government

Democracy Watch — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:19:55 +0000

Green Party receives C- best grade of bad overall grades in Report Card on British Columbia Parties’ Democratic Good Government Platforms — Conservatives receive a D-, NDP a D- and Liberals an F

Despite high voter concern about democracy and trust, all parties fail to promise many needed changes to have effective democracy, government ethics and accountability in British Columbia

Friday, May 10, 2013

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch released its Report Card on the 2013 Democratic Good Government Election Platforms of the five main British Columbia political parties, the only election report card on these issues.

Lapdog federal Ethics Commissioner again refuses to investigate a clear case

Democracy Watch — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:07:59 +0000

Lapdog federal Ethics Commissioner again refuses to investigate a clear case — PM Harper helping Peter Penashue with spending and by-election during Elections Canada investigation

Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson has let dozens of Conservatives off the hook for clear ethics violations, and made more than 80 secret rulings, since 2007 — letter-writing campaign has thousands calling for key changes to ensure effective ethics enforcement

Friday, May 10, 2013

Audit of 2011 federal election gives even more reasons for public inquiry into Elections Canada

Democracy Watch — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:06:31 +0000

Audit of 2011 federal election gives even more reasons for public inquiry into Elections Canada’s enforcement actions – along with 3,000 secret complaint rulings since 1997

Changes to law needed before next election to require Elections Canada to enhance pre-election voter registration, have clear rules and better training for election workers, to conduct full public audits after every election, and to disclose all rulings

Thursday, May 2, 2013

10 reasons Canadians should be concerned about the review of federal ethics rules

Democracy Watch — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:51:29 +0000

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch and the Government Ethics Coalition set out 10 reasons Canadians should be concerned about the current review of federal ethics rules by the House of Commons Ethics Committee, and proposed 30 key changes to the rules, enforcement and penalties needed to have ethical federal politics.

No excuse for federal Conservatives to be seven months overdue with anti-robocall law

Democracy Watch — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:12:16 +0000

Alberta passed new law quickly last fall; federal Liberals and NDP have introduced bills (both opposed by the Conservatives); and Elections Canada has proposed changes

More than 68,000 messages sent in letter-writing drive for robocall law – inquiry into weak election law enforcement also needed

Friday, April 19, 2013

Democracy Watch congratulates Justin Trudeau, and sets out plan for good government and corporate responsibility reforms

Democracy Watch — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:03:47 +0000

Surveys show proposals supported by large majority of Canadians, and also endorsed by national coalitions made up of 140 citizen groups with more than 3 million total members

April 15, 2013

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch congratulated Justin Trudeau on becoming leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and called on him not only to keep the democratic reform promises he made during the campaign but also to make many more changes that a large majority of Canadians support in keeping his commitments to “reform our political institutions” and in “reconciling the environment and our economy”. Democracy Watch set out detailed proposals for keeping these commitments.

Group files complaint with Ethics Commissioner about PM's by-election call helping Peter Penashue

Democracy Watch — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:04:22 +0000

Group also launches national letter-writing campaign calling on House Committees reviewing federal Conflict of Interest Act and MP and Senate ethics codes to recommend key changes to strengthen ethics rules, enforcement and penalties

Ethics Commissioner has rejected more than 80 complaints with secret rulings since 2007, and cleared dozens of Cabinet ministers, staff and MPs who violated ethics rules or exploited huge loopholes in the rules

Friday, April 12, 2013

Information Commissioner to investigate muzzling of federal scientists after complaint and letter-writing campaign

Democracy Watch — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:22:32 +0000

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch expressed its pleasure with the fact that the Information Commissioner has officially confirmed they will conduct a full investigation into the muzzling of federal government scientists by the federal Conservative government.

The complaint was filed by Democracy Watch in collaboration with the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Clinic over new federal government policies that attempt to muzzle scientists.

Group calls for changes to free and empower MPs in key ways

Democracy Watch — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:46:22 +0000

Surveys show voters want changes, Justin Trudeau has committed to some changes, the Conservatives promised some changes in 2006, and MPs could work together to make the changes at any time

Send a letter calling for the end of muzzling MPs here

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Group files complaint with Elections Canada over 'loans' some federal Liberal leadership candidates made to themselves

Democracy Watch — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:28:00 +0000

Group files complaint with Elections Canada about “loans” some federal Liberal leadership candidates made to themselves that are actually contributions that exceed legal limits

Canada Elections Act must be changed to prohibit any organization from making a loan, and to prohibit anyone from loaning more than the current donation limit, and to require disclosure of all donations, and to make leadership races democratic in other key ways

Monday, March 11, 2013

Nation-wide coalition calling for federal government to pass key bank accountability measures

Democracy Watch — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:18:01 +0000

As Canada’s big banks again gouge out record profits in past 3 months of $7.7 billion, nation-wide coalition broadens its letter-writing drive calling for federal government action to pass key bank accountability measures — more than 23,000 messages sent so far

Comprehensive audits, and new Financial Consumer Organization needed to ensure profits are not excessive, and for accountability and financial literacy Send a letter calling for audits of profits, and bank accountability measures by clicking here

Group calls for key changes to give Auditor General and Parliamentary Budget Officer needed powers

Democracy Watch — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:32:44 +0000

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch called for key changes to give the Auditor Generals (AGs) across Canada, and the federal Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), the independence, mandate and powers needed to ensure honesty in government and politician spending. As well, Democracy Watch called on provincial and territorial governments to establish PBOs that also cover municipal governments in each jurisdiction.

The key problems that the AGs across Canada, and the federal PBO, cannot currently prevent because of lack of independence, weak mandates, or lack of resources or powers, are as follows:

- government spending can violate rules for years before an AG finds out;

Groups file complaint with federal Information Commissioner calling for investigation of muzzling of federal scientists

Democracy Watch — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:34:03 +0000

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch, in partnership with the Environmental Law Clinic of the University of Victoria, filed a complaint with the federal Information Commissioner and called for a full investigation following the release of a report on the lack of freedom of federal government scientists to speak with the public and journalists.

Equal, elected and effective Parliament can happen by abolishing the Senate

Democracy Watch — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:49:29 +0000

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The recent scandals involving senators offer more reasons to question the Senate's continued existence. Senators currently control investigations into other senators' ethics, spending, attendance and actions overall, and enforcement of the rules, and the rules are very weak and/or there are no penalties for violations in most cases. This is a completely ineffective system undermined by rampant conflicts of interest -- and senators are not even talking about changing it.

House Ethics Committee must require Ethics Commissioner today to disclose more than 80 secret rulings since 2007

Democracy Watch — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:51:51 +0000

Commissioner has rejected more than 80 complaints since 2007 without disclosing any details or reasons -- in her 20 public rulings, she has found only 4 people guilty, and has let dozens of Cabinet ministers, staff and MPs off the hook with no penalty

Group launches national letter-writing campaign to push the Ethics Committee and the government to strengthen federal ethics rules and enforcement in 30 key ways -- public servant ethics rules and penalties are much stronger than politicians

Monday, February 11, 2013

House Committees must recommend that federal Conflict of Interest Act and MP and Senate ethics codes and enforcement be changed

Democracy Watch — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:03:57 +0000

House Committees must recommend that federal Conflict of Interest Act and MP and Senate ethics codes and enforcement be changed in 30 key ways to finally make corruption in federal politics illegal

Act and MP and senator ethics codes are so full of loopholes they should be called “Almost Impossible to be in a Conflict of Interest Rules” -- ethics rules for federal public servants are much stronger than the rules for politicians, as are penalties

Cases since 2007 involving dozens of Cabinet ministers, staff and MPs being let off the hook with no penalty show how much federal ethics rules and enforcement are a bad joke -- will Prime Minister Harper finally get tough on undemocratic crimes?

Group calls on Canadians nation-wide to hold democracy Coffee Parties to write letters to politicians

Democracy Watch — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:06:56 +0000

OTTAWA – Today, as legislatures begin to open again across Canada, Democracy Watch called on Canadians to hold coffee parties through CoffeeParty.ca to write letters to politicians calling for key democracy and corporate responsibility reforms, and to let Democracy Watch if they are holding a party by sending an email to [email protected]" rel="nofollow">[email protected].

Democracy Watch created the CoffeeParty.ca movement to help Canadians coordinate their efforts to change politics in Canada and to raise awareness about some of the more effective ways to make governments make the changes Canadians want and deserve.