Democracy Watch responded to the Trudeau government’s recent report containing the results of its public consultation on the Access to Information Act (ATIA). “The public, citizen groups and experts have loudly and clearly called once again, as they have for decades, for key changes to close loopholes in the federal access to information law, and strengthen … Read more
Democracy Watch announced that the Federal Court rejected the federal cabinet’s first attempt to throw out key evidence in its case challenging the federal government’s system for appointing judges to the federal courts. “The current federal judicial appointment system is open to too much political interference by the ruling party, which violates the independence of the courts that … Read more
Democracy Watch announced that it has filed a court case challenging Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion‘s May 2021 ruling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s (Papineau, Que.) participation in the WE Charity grant approval process because the Commissioner made four key errors in letting Trudeau off even though Trudeau clearly violated the federal government ethics law. “Ethics … Read more
Democracy Watch called on Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland (University-Rosedale, Ont.) and Ontario Premier Doug Ford to make three key changes that will expose, and end, fossil fuel financing by Canada’s Big Banks and other key financial institutions. “Canada’s big banks and other financial institutions […] shouldn’t be allowed to keep details of their fossil fuel industry loans, … Read more
Democracy Watch announced that the Federal Court rejected the government’s motion requesting that the court stop the cases Democracy Watch filed in August 2020 challenging the federal Commissioner of Lobbying’s rulings about lobbyists Ben Bergen and Dana O’Born of the Council of Canadian Innovators. “The federal lobbying ethics code prohibits anyone from lobbying a Cabinet minister or their officials for four … Read more
Democracy Watch criticized the “Independent Senators Group” for planning to hold a secretive, closed-door hearing to decide whether to expel Senator Marilou McPhedran for questioning weak, loophole-filled Senate ethics and anti-harassment rules and enforcement. “If they want to claim to be independent, senators in the so-called Independent Senators Group should have rejected the attempt to use a secretive, kangaroo court … Read more
The VoteParty/PartyVote and VotePromise initiatives announced that they reached more than 1.3 million people across Canada during the federal election campaign with their key messages to take a non-voter to vote with you. The initiatives reach more people than any other non-governmental voter turnout initiatives in Canada. More than 850,000 people were reached through celebrity montage … Read more
Democracy Watch called for democratic changes to the federal political system to increase voter turnout. “With only about 62 per cent of voters casting ballots in the federal election, the fifth lowest turnout ever, and only 20 per cent of eligible voters supporting the winning party, alarm bells should be going off and questions raised … Read more
Democracy Watch released its Report Card on the Federal Parties’ 2021 Democratic Reform Platforms. The Green Party received a C- as the best grade of overall bad grades for all the parties, as their platform was weaker than their 2011 election platform when they received a B- grade. The NDP and Conservatives tied with D- while the … Read more
Democracy Watch called on federal party leaders to learn the lessons of past minority governments and reach an agreement on eight public, written rules for a fair, democratic minority government. The rules should make clear: when the legislature will open; when it can be closed; what a vote of non-confidence is; when and how the opposition … Read more
