Canada's Ethics Commissioner Shouldn't Let Harper Off the Hook
Democracy Watch has released federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson's refusal to investigate yet another clear case -- Prime Minister Harper helping Peter Penashue with a funding announcement and a by-election call while Elections Canada is investigating Mr. Penashue's last election campaign. It calls for key changes to ensure effective ethics enforcement in Canada.
More than 61,000 messages have been sent through Democracy Watch's letter-writing campaign to MPs on the House of Commons Ethics Committee that is reviewing the federal Conflict of Interest Act, and to other key politicians across Canada.
Democracy Watch submitted a complaint to the Ethics Commissioner after Prime Minister Stephen Harper allowed Mr. Penashue to make a $1.35 million spending announcement in his riding on March 11, 2013, just days before he resigned his seat and after Prime Minister Harper called the by-election before prosecutors had decided whether to charge Mr. Penashue or others involved in his 2011 election campaign for violations of the Canada Elections Act.
"This is yet another clear case where the lapdog federal Ethics Commissioner is ignoring clear ethics rules, and instead using a dangerously narrow and legally incorrect enforcement approach to protect a politician who has improperly furthered the private interest of a friend and colleague," said Tyler Sommers Coordinator of Democracy Watch.
"The Ethics Commissioner actually makes the absurd claim in her ruling that the ethics law never covers any political decisions Cabinet ministers make, no matter what the situation."
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