Liberals Table Amendments to Federal Accountability Act

For Immediate Release

 

Ottawa, May 30, 2006 -

Ottawa – Liberal Senators are introducing amendments to the Conservative government’s flawed Accountability Act, which will add to the dozens of amendments that have already been identified by the government in strengthening the Bill. 

“After hearing more than 140 witnesses through 98 hours of meetings, we have concluded Bill C-2, the Federal Accountability Act, is deeply flawed and requires numerous amendments if it is to live up to its name,” said Senator Joseph Day, the Opposition Critic for Bill C-2, who sat on the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, which studied the legislation.  

Senator Grant Mitchell pointed out that many of the flaws in the legislation can likely be attributed to the haste with which it was rushed through the House of Commons.

 “Although the Senate was advised by Treasury Board Minister John Baird that this Bill had been ‘examined with a microscope’ by his colleagues in the House of Commons, the myriad errors identified suggest it was pushed through with more regard for speed than substance,” Senator Mitchell said. 

 In addition to repairing numerous drafting errors which should have been caught before the Bill was introduced, key areas in which the Liberals are tabling substantive amendments include:

  • Political Financing: to ensure that new political donation limits do not unfairly restrict the participation of political parties in debate;
  • Access to Information: a number of exemptions have been granted to Sustainable Development and Technology Canada (SDTC), the National Arts Centre (NAC) and the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), which will prevent the disclosure of information that could harm the competitiveness of Canadian businesses; and
  • Director of Public Prosecutors: to strengthen the nomination process and ensure its independence from partisan political interference.

“The Conservatives have accused the Senate of stalling this legislation, thereby undermining our duty to provide sober second thought.  But given the many flaws that we’ve been able to catch in this Bill, we hope that Mr. Baird and his government will stop using the Senate as a political football and realize the important work that must be done to protect Canadians from legislation full of unforeseen negative impacts being bullied into becoming law,” said Senator Serge Joyal, who also sat on the Committee.

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