GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TAKES IMPORTANT STEP TO STRENGTHEN ETHICAL STANDARDS IN PARLIAMENT

May 07, 2009

 

Ottawa, Ontario - Following through on the government’s commitment to Senate reform, the Hon. Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Democratic Reform) introduced legislation today to place ethics standards for the Senate and the House of Commons under a single ethics officer.  The legislation builds on the measures brought forward in the Federal Accountability Act to increase accountability and strengthen democracy in Canada. 

“Canadians expect that all parliamentarians will be subject to consistent ethical standards,” said Minister Fletcher. “This bill moves us closer to making an Upper House that is more democratic and accountable and an institution that Canadians can be proud of.”

The Senate Ethics Act amends the Parliament of Canada Act to eliminate the separate office of Senate Ethics Officer and bring the Senate and House of Commons ethics codes under the jurisdiction of a single, independent Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.

The government has committed to reforming the Senate to reflect the ideals of a
21st-century democracy, by limiting Senate terms to eight years, giving Canadians a say over who represents them in the Upper House and harmonizing the Senate ethics regime with the House of Commons.

The Senate Ethics Act is the first step in meeting that commitment and the government will be introducing further Senate reform legislation in the near future.
 
“Ensuring integrity in the political system was a key aspect of our government’s Federal Accountability Act,” said Minister Fletcher. “The Senate Ethics Act will ensure that a consistent approach to ethical standards will be applied to all parliamentarians.”