Democracy Watch responded positively to the 75 democracy and government access and accountability promises made by the federal Liberal Party. While the Liberals touted it as a 32-point plan, Democracy Watch counts 75 specific promised changes in the 5 areas of the plan, which puts them well ahead of the other federal parties in terms … Read more
Democracy Watch called on the Auditor General to audit federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson’s performance record similar to the review the auditor did in 2010 of the very negligently weak enforcement record of the former federal Integrity Commissioner. Commissioner Dawson is the enforcer of the Conflict of Interest Act and the … 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. Commissioner Shepherd is the front-line enforcer of the Lobbying Act and Lobbyists’ Code … Read more
Democracy Watch and the Open Government Coalition applauded the federal Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault’s report that calls for many changes to strengthen the federal Access to Information Act and open government system. “The Information Commissioner’s recommendations will, if implemented, finally change the current federal ‘Guide to Keeping Secrets Act’ into a real access to information … Read more
Democracy Watch released the letter it has sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) and the federal cabinet calling for key changes to ensure people who work within Canada’s spy agencies and military are required to be ethical and honest, and are protected if they blow the whistle on wrongdoing. More information is … Read more
In testimony before the Procedure and House Affairs Committee, Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher will call for changes to strengthen the Reform Act (Bill C-586) measures that restrict the powers of party leaders, and free and empower MPs in key, reasonable ways, as a majority of Canadians want. “The Reform Act gives MPs a rare opportunity … Read more
Democracy Watch announced that it has launched a Come Clean Speaker Scheer letter-writing campaign calling on the House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer to clean up Question Period by enforcing all the rules (See the campaign at: http://ComeClean.ca/Scheer). Call 613-241-5179.
Democracy Watch called for democratic changes to Ontario’s political system in response to the clear crisis of low voter turnout in the provincial election. Initial results show that the Ontario Liberals have won a majority of 58 of 107 seats with the support of only 19.5 per cent of eligible voters, which raises serious questions about … Read more
There is an elite club running Canada – the SuPremos. They are almost all powerful, unchecked by anyone, and restricted by few laws. Even the Constitution doesn’t stop them from abusing many of their powers. Most watchdogs can’t touch them, and their actions often strike fear in the hearts of Canadians. The SuPremos abuses of power can only be stopped … Read more
Democracy Watch proposed 10 key changes to the House committee to make Bill C-23, Fair Elections Act, actually fair, and 10 other priority changes to make federal elections actually fair. More than 37,000 messages sent so far in group’s national letter-writing campaign pushing all federal political parties to change the act – and group launches national petition drive to increase the pressure. … Read more
