Democracy Watch announced that more than 17,000 Canadians have signed its online petition calling for changes to Bill C-76 to ensure that all election advertising, in media and social media, complies with the Canada Elections Act’s prohibitions on false ads that exceed political party, candidate and third-party spending limits. These petitions were submitted to the House of … Read more
Democracy Watch release the letter it sent to Senate Ethics Officer Pierre Legault calling on him to investigate and issue a ruling that Senator Larry Campbell’s position as a board member with Great Canadian Gaming Corporation violates the purpose and rules of the Senate ethics code. Democracy Watch also called on Legault to review the … Read more
Democracy Watch sent a letter to federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion calling for a reconsideration of Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson’s ruling that none of the sections of the Conflict of Interest Act apply to the fundraising events attended or hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) and/or Cabinet ministers. “High-priced, exclusive, invite-only fundraising events attended … Read more
Greenpeace Canada and Democracy Watch have filed a formal request for an investigation by Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer into whether an ad campaign by a front group for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers violated Ontario’s election law. The request sets out details about an ad campaign run from April 8 to May 29 by Canada’s Energy Citizens, which … Read more
Democracy Watch called for a public inquiry into parts of Elections Ontario’s running of the recent provincial election given: 1. Elections Ontario violated the law by failing to do ads informing voters of their right to decline their ballot; 2. a huge increase in unmarked ballots raises questions about whether thousands were prohibited from declining … Read more
Following the release of the House Committee report on June 19, Democracy Watch announced that more than 11,000 Canadians have signed its online petition on Change.org that echoes the Committee’s privacy protection recommendations, and more than 4,500 Canadians have signed its online petition on Change.org calling for changes to stop secret, false online election ads. “Will the Trudeau Cabinet make the changes … Read more
Democracy Watch released the letter it sent April 25 to federal Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger requesting an investigation of Facebook Canada’s lobbying activities. “The actions of Facebook’s employee and its consultant lobbyists, including favours provided to federal Cabinet ministers and politicians, raise serious questions and an investigation is needed to determine if they have violated the federal lobbying … Read more
As more and more details about secret, fake online ads in the U.S. election and Brexit referendum that violated spending limits are being revealed, Democracy Watch calls for changes to election laws across Canada to stop such ads undermining elections and referendums here. “Canada’s democracy faces the new threat of fake and foreign online election ads, … Read more
Democracy Watch and the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Clinic released former Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault’s investigation report, dated February 28, 2018, which found six departments and agencies in the Conservative government violated the government’s Communications policy and “formal commitments to foster and promote Open Government” by muzzling scientists. The report also says while the Trudeau … Read more
Democracy Watch released the application it recently filed in Federal Court challenging new Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger’s decision in January to discontinue the investigation into the late former Apotex Inc. Chairman Barry Sherman’s fundraising for the Trudeau Liberals. “Democracy Watch is challenging new Lobbying Commissioner Bélanger’s ruling in court because it doesn’t take into account that Apotex violated … Read more
