Democracy Watch welcomed a unanimous Supreme Court of Canada ruling that it says removes statutory barriers to challenging decisions by the federal Ethics Commissioner and other administrative tribunals in court. The organization said that the decision allows its legal challenge to proceed over former Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion‘s ruling that former prime minister Justin Trudeau … Read more
Democracy Watch said the House of Commons ethics committee must recommend changes to the Lobbying Act and Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct to close what it calls loopholes that allow secret and unethical lobbying. The organization made the call as co-founder Duff Conacher prepared to testify before the committee during its review of the federal lobbying … Read more
As Democracy Watch testified before the House Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Bill C-25 today, the group released a list of proposed amendments it says are needed to stop “undemocratic influence of wealthy interests, disinformation and foreign interference” in Canada’s election system. “Bill C-25 proposes some ineffective half-measures that won’t stop the undemocratic influence … Read more
Democracy Watch released a report on Commissioner of Lobbying Nancy Bélanger’s enforcement record of the federal Lobbying Act and Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct since she started in the position in January 2018 through to October 2025. Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher stated: “Commissioner of Lobbying Nancy Bélanger has a negligently weak enforcement record and has let … Read more
Democracy Watch is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney (Nepean, Ont.) and federal party leaders to either abolish the Senate, create an elected Senate or establish a fully independent Senate appointment process as vacancies continue to grow in the upper chamber. The organization argues that former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s appointment system remained partisan because … Read more
Democracy Watch issued a statement criticizing Prime Minister Mark Carney (Nepean, Ont.) for what it calls a secretive and partisan process in selecting the new Governor General, arguing the role must remain independent of the prime minister and cabinet. The group calls for a more democratic and transparent selection process involving all federal party leaders and reducing the … Read more
Democracy Watch is an intervener today at a Federal Court of Appeal hearing on whether an appeal challenging former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s 2025 prorogation of Parliament should proceed. The group argues the court should hear the case and set limits on a prime minister’s ability to prorogue Parliament, particularly in situations involving potential non-confidence … Read more
Democracy Watch released a second submission to the House Ethics Committee calling for reforms to the Conflict of Interest Act, arguing that current rules allow senior officials to avoid accountability and profit from decisions. “It’s dangerously undemocratic and unethical alone to have parliamentary secretaries, who are members of the executive branch Cabinet, sit on House … Read more
Democracy Watch is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney (Nepean, Ont.) to penalize a deputy minister found to have violated federal ethics rules and is urging Parliament to introduce mandatory penalties for such breaches. The organization says the current Conflict of Interest Act lacks meaningful consequences, allowing violations to go largely unpunished. “If Prime Minister … Read more
Democracy Watch accused Commissioner of Lobbying Nancy Bélanger and RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme of covering up lobbying violations in 13 cases since 2018 by failing to publicly name lobbyists who breached the federal Lobbying Act and heavily redacting investigation records. “By negligently letting off all of the lobbyists in 13 cases who violated the federal … Read more
