ABBOTSFORD ISSUES

Conservatives Move for Accountability

No aspect of responsible government is more fundamental than having the trust of citizens.  Scandals under the Liberal government, such as the sponsorship scandal, billion-dollar HRDC boondoggle, Strippergate and long gun registry fiasco, have eroded Canadians' faith in the institutions and practices of government.  Our Conservative government trusts in the Canadian people, and its goal is that Canadians will once again trust in their government. It's time for accountability.

To restore this trust, the first piece of legislation which our Conservative government brought forward during the spring session of Parliament was the Federal Accountability Act. On Dec. 12, 2006, this far-reaching legislation and the associated Accountability Action Plan were passed into law.  The Act has changed the current system of oversight and management by strengthening the rules and institutions that ensure transparency and accountability to Canadians.

The legislation bans institutional and large personal donations to political parties; it ensures that positions of public trust cannot be used as stepping stones to private lobbying; and it provides real protection for whistle-blowers who show great courage in coming forward to do what is right.

The Act also strengthens the powers and independence of officers of Parliament, including the Auditor General and Ethics Commissioner. It increases transparency in areas such as appointments (including appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada), the awarding of contracts, and audits conducted within government departments and Crown corporations.

Effective checks and balances are important, but they are not enough. The trust of citizens must be earned every day.  We are working hard to earn that trust.

For more information on our plan for accountability, please check out http://www.faa-lfi.gc.ca/index_e.asp#2.