Make Parliament more accountable

OTTAWA – When it comes to making Parliament accountable, Canadians expect better – and New Democrats have a plan to deliver better.

The NDP proposed three new measures today that could be implemented during the upcoming session and immediately elevate accountability for parliamentarians.

“After months of scandals in Ottawa, Canadians want better from parliamentarians, and the NDP has a plan to raise the bar on accountability,” said Official Opposition Caucus Chair Peter Julian (Burnaby – New Westminster). “We challenge the Conservatives and the Liberals to agree to our proposal and agree to strengthen these rules government MPs and Senators’ behavior.”

The NDP proposal would:

• Prohibit parliamentarians from sitting on the boards of big corporations.
• Stop parliamentarians from double-dipping by banning payment for work that is part of their job as an MP or Senator.
• Strengthen ethics rules by enshrining them into law and empowering the Ethics Commissioner to administer real penalties when politicians break the rules.

“Canadians expect and deserve greater accountability,” added Official Opposition Justice critic Françoise Boivin (Gatineau). “By enshrining more of these ethics rules into law, and giving the Ethics Commissioner real teeth, we can crack down on rule breaking parliamentarians.”