Raising the bar for democracy and transparency

June 17, 2013


In the welter of bad news lately about politics and politicians, it’s important to maintain some perspective beyond the multiple scandals that have engulfed and so tarnished the Harper Conservatives.

Yes, it’s the essential job of opposition leaders to expose the government’s failings.  But criticism alone is not enough.  It’s also essential to set high standards and propose fresh ideas to make government better.  From the beginning of his leadership campaign, that has been Justin Trudeau’s strength — giving Canadians good reasons to vote FOR him, not just AGAINST the other guy.

A powerful example is the way he has handled the controversy about his personal business as a motivational speaker helping community organizations raise funds for good causes.

That work was fully approved by the Ethics Commissioner.  Justin followed all the rules.  He made complete early disclosure before any issues arose.  He fully honoured all his contractual obligations.  And in an extra demonstration of leadership, he has offered compensation or other personal assistance to any group that has an outstanding concern.

In that constructive spirit, he has also developed an aggressive agenda for Parliamentary, electoral and political reform to strengthen Canadian democracy and improve financial transparency.

For example, he wants the expenses of all Members of Parliament, not just Cabinet Ministers, to be published on a pro-active basis every quarter.  He also wants regular performance audits on the House of Commons by the Auditor General, and clear guidelines for when the AG would be asked to do other examinations.

Here are more of Justin’s ideas:

  • All nominations for people to run as candidates for Parliament should be open and democratic.  No pre-canned appointments.
  • Once in the House of Commons, there should be less “whipping” along Party-lines and more free votes that let duly-elected MPs think for themselves and assume full accountability for their decisions.
  • Parliament’s control over government spending should be bolstered.  There should be an annual deadline for presenting each year’s budget.  MPs should have the power to veto wasteful spending like partisan government advertising.  Parliament’s explicit approval should be required before any money is borrowed.
  • The Parliamentary Budget Officer should be truly independent and adequately funded.
  • Proper fences are needed to limit the use of Omnibus Bills, Closure and Prorogation, keeping them to their original parliamentary purposes (not crude devices to impair democracy).
  • Every vote in every Parliamentary Committee should be open to the public.
  • Elections Canada needs to be strengthened with the funding, personnel, expertise, supervisory capacity, investigative powers and legal tools to ensure fair and competent elections and to root out election fraud.
  • The electoral boundaries commissions that are required periodically to draw-up new federal constituencies must be truly independent, non-partisan and quasi-judicial — free from political interference and harassment.
  • And we need a fairer, more accurate voting system to replace our current first-past-the-post regime which so often produces distorted outcomes.  A good start would be a “preferential ballot”.

A common principle in all of Justin’s proposals is a shift in power, away from a domineering Prime Minister’s Office, and toward individual citizens and the MPs they properly choose to represent them.  That would be a distinct improvement.

Ralph Goodale

Deputy Liberal Leader