Ethics Commissioner Agrees to Investigate Harper Following Complaint March 06, 2006
Following a written complaint from Malpeque MP Wayne Easter, the federal ethics commissioner Dr. Bernard Shapiro has decided to launch an investigation into the process by which Prime Minister Harper managed to have David Emerson cross the floor following the recent federal election to accept a cabinet office.
“In information received from the Ethics Commissioner last Friday” said Easter, “I was informed that the Ethics Commissioner has decided to launch a preliminary inquiry to determine whether Mr. Harper has complied with his obligations under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. I was also informed that an inquiry into the activities of Mr. Emerson will also be undertaken by the Ethics Commissioner and a single report will be released.”
In a letter dated February 10, 2006, Mr. Easter indicated his concern that the Prime Minister may have offered an inducement to Mr. Emerson to cross the floor and join the Conservative government, even though he had just been elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament.
The House of Commons conflict of interest code prohibits MPs from inducing another MP to take an action that would further their private interests. Cabinet ministers are paid $213,500 or $69,200 more than a backbench MP. They also receive other financial benefits beyond the prestige and influence of the office, including a car and driver. Therefore, there were significant financial perks at stake for Mr. Emerson to cross the floor.
A Conservative spokesperson responded to the news by publicly stating they will not cooperate with the Ethics Commissioner’s investigation, claiming the investigation is just a “partisan attack” and that the Ethics Commissioner is a “Liberal appointee.”
Dr. Shapiro’s appointment as Ethics Commissioner was confirmed by a vote in the House of Commons pursuant to the provisions of the Ethics Bill (C-4). When Dr. Shapiro was questioned by a House committee following his nomination, the Conservative members expressed no concern with his impartiality and qualifications, instead publicly stating that he had a “very impressive” background.
During the last session of Parliament, the Conservatives asked Dr. Shapiro for, and received, a number of ethics investigations. Now that they are in power, the Conservative government apparently dismisses such investigations as “partisan attacks”
Could it be that the Conservatives only respect the office of the Ethics Commissioner as long as their party is not subject to investigations?
For a party that ran under the banner of “accountable government,” this lack of respect for the Ethics Commissioner is the ultimate act of hypocrisy.
Following a written complaint from Malpeque MP Wayne Easter, the federal ethics commissioner Dr. Bernard Shapiro has decided to launch an investigation into the process by which Prime Minister Harper managed to have David Emerson cross the floor following the recent federal election to accept a cabinet office.
“In information received from the Ethics Commissioner last Friday” said Easter, “I was informed that the Ethics Commissioner has decided to launch a preliminary inquiry to determine whether Mr. Harper has complied with his obligations under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. I was also informed that an inquiry into the activities of Mr. Emerson will also be undertaken by the Ethics Commissioner and a single report will be released.”
In a letter dated February 10, 2006, Mr. Easter indicated his concern that the Prime Minister may have offered an inducement to Mr. Emerson to cross the floor and join the Conservative government, even though he had just been elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament.
The House of Commons conflict of interest code prohibits MPs from inducing another MP to take an action that would further their private interests. Cabinet ministers are paid $213,500 or $69,200 more than a backbench MP. They also receive other financial benefits beyond the prestige and influence of the office, including a car and driver. Therefore, there were significant financial perks at stake for Mr. Emerson to cross the floor.
A Conservative spokesperson responded to the news by publicly stating they will not cooperate with the Ethics Commissioner’s investigation, claiming the investigation is just a “partisan attack” and that the Ethics Commissioner is a “Liberal appointee.”
Dr. Shapiro’s appointment as Ethics Commissioner was confirmed by a vote in the House of Commons pursuant to the provisions of the Ethics Bill (C-4). When Dr. Shapiro was questioned by a House committee following his nomination, the Conservative members expressed no concern with his impartiality and qualifications, instead publicly stating that he had a “very impressive” background.
During the last session of Parliament, the Conservatives asked Dr. Shapiro for, and received, a number of ethics investigations. Now that they are in power, the Conservative government apparently dismisses such investigations as “partisan attacks”
Could it be that the Conservatives only respect the office of the Ethics Commissioner as long as their party is not subject to investigations?
For a party that ran under the banner of “accountable government,” this lack of respect for the Ethics Commissioner is the ultimate act of hypocrisy.
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