Democracy Watch launched its new national petition on Change.org calling for key changes to make Canada’s big businesses and Big Banks pay their fair share of taxes. “Like Scrooge, Canada’s big businesses and banks are trying to keep all the money for themselves, and key changes are needed to close loopholes and match the average tax rate in … Read more
Democracy Watch detailed the eight unethical and questionable actions of Mario Dion, the Trudeau Cabinet’s proposed candidate for Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, when he was Integrity Commissioner. “Given his many unethical and questionable actions when he was Integrity Commissioner, Mario Dion would likely be just as bad a lapdog as Ethics Commissioner Mary … Read more
As Canada’s Big 6 Banks have finished reporting their record 2017 profits which are more than double their 2010 profits, and as Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.) reviews the Bank Act and other financial sector laws, Democracy Watch called on Morneau to make the key changes to stop gouging and abuse called for by its Bank Accountability Campaign and Change.org … Read more
Democracy Watch called on the Auditor General to audit federal Commissioner of Lobbying Karen Shepherd’s and the RCMP performance record similar to the review the auditor did in 2010 of the very negligently weak enforcement record of the former federal Integrity Commissioner. “Lobbying Commissioner Shepherd has clearly failed to enforce the federal lobbying law and code effectively … Read more
Democracy Watch released details about the lawsuit it filed in the Federal Court of Appeal challenging the Ethics Commissioner’s decision that Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.) did not need to sell the shares he owned in his family’s company, Morneau Shepell Inc. “As she has many times in the past, Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson … Read more
Democracy Watch has confirmed staff from Prime Minister’s Office and responsible ministers sit on the selection committees for all the key good government watchdogs. The committees, not the firms, do all the screening and interviews of candidates from the long lists sent to them by the firms. “The Trudeau government has claimed again and again that … Read more
Democracy Watch formally launched its campaign calling for changes to election laws across Canada to stop fake online election ads. Already more than 4,500 Canadians have signed its online petition on Change.org aimed at federal party leaders, and Democracy Watch also has an online letter-writing campaign calling on all governments across Canada to make the same changes. “Canadians have fought … Read more
Democracy Watch released the Trudeau government’s affidavit that responds to one of the court cases Democracy Watch filed in July challenging the Trudeau Cabinet’s reappointment last June of both federal Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson to their third six-month terms since their multi-year term in office expired in July 2016. “The Trudeau Cabinet’s decision last spring … Read more
Democracy Watch has revealed that the first federal Ethics Commissioner, Bernard Shapiro, recommended in 2005 and 2006 that public disclosure of the details every time a Cabinet minister or other government official recuses themselves from a discussion or decision when they have a conflict of interest. With the 2006 Federal Accountability Act, the Conservatives changed … Read more
Democracy Watch confirmed that it will file a new court case against federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson because she has failed to recuse herself from investigating complaints about Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.), and because she made a legally incorrect decision to allow Morneau and other ministers to keep owning investments while they … Read more
