News Summary and Comment:
In the latest development at the group Rights and Democracy, the government has appointed a new head of the agency. The announcement came late at night, which prompted much criticism — as has the choice itself. The appointee, Gerard Latulippe, is linked to the ruling Tories and reportedly has a somewhat intolerant view of immigrant cultures. I’m not sure why the timing matters as it’s hardly been overlooked as a result, but combined with the firing of three dissenting employees, I do think that the handling of whole affair is a gift to the opposition parties.
In Nova Scotia, the recent MLA expenses scandal has finally resulted in concrete changes. Whereas in the past MLAs decided their expense allowances in secret and had no accountability on how they spent it, they will now be posting their expenses on the web. They decided this in a public meeting, fully aware of just how angry the electorate is. I can’t think of a more positive development and dream of the day it spreads across Canada. Unfortunately, that’s unlikely. Even in Nova Scotia, for example, mea culpas are few and far between. Not even the MP who quit really came clean.
In other news, the Canadian Forces has introduced a new ethics program for soldiers. The theory is that modern asymmetrical warfare requires a program which makes soldiers more aware of such things as the slippery slope of prisoner abuse. It sounds like a good idea, and seems to have an understanding of the stresses soldiers must face. Some people have suggested it’s a response to the Afghan detainee controversy, but that doesn’t hold water. First of all, such a program would have taken a couple of years to develop (at least). Secondly, I don’t think anyone was accusing Canadian soldiers of systemic misconduct. Isolated cases that have come to light seem to have been dealt with transparently.
Finally, it’s been reported that the EU has launched a whistleblowing site where people can report wrongdoing anonymously. They already have a watchdog, but apparently people don’t really trust it. That, sadly, is not an experience unique to the EU. I just hope people don’t expect that reporting wrongdoing anonymously will necessarily protect them against a witch hunt or reprisal.
Have a good weekend.
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N.S. MLA Expenses to be Posted on Web
National Defence Introduces Modernized Ethics Program for Troops
EU Launches Whistleblowers Site
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Federal Government Appoints New Head of Rights and Accountability in “Dead of Night”; Fires Dissidents
Rights & Democracy dissidents fired
CBC News, March 3, 2010
Summary: Three senior managers at the federal government’s human rights agency who were suspended for publicly declaring their lack of confidence in three Conservative appointees to their organization’s board of directors earlier this year have been fired.
Critics rip Tories for appointing new head of rights group in ‘dead of night’
National Post, March 3, 2010
Summary: The Conservative government has now “effectively destroyed” an internationally respected human-rights and democracy-promoting organization, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Wednesday. The latest development in the ongoing troubles at the government-funded, arms-length agency Rights and Democracy came late Tuesday evening when Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon issued a news release naming a new president. Critics say the “dead-of-night” announcement of Gerard Latulippe — a man whose proposed appointment was rejected in government consultations with all three opposition parties – neatly sums up Conservative operating principles.
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N.S. MLA Expenses to be Posted on Web
Pay up or explain yourself, MLAs, ex-politicians told
The Chronicle-Herald (Halifax), March 3, 2010
Summary: MLAs past and present who haven’t reimbursed taxpayers for inappropriate or excessive purchases or duplicate payments will have to explain themselves. The internal economy board voted Tuesday to send letters to everyone in those categories flagged by auditor general Jacques Lapointe asking them to repay the money or explain why they shouldn’t by April 3.
N.S. slaps restrictions on legislators’ spending
The Globe and Mail, March 3, 2010
Summary: The gravy train that allowed Nova Scotia politicians to spend tens of thousands of dollars with limited oversight has jumped the tracks. For years, a variety of allowances that permitted politicians to claim items such as $13,455 for custom-made office furniture and $738 for an espresso machine were approved in private meetings of the Internal Economy Board, a group of MLAs from all parties which set the rules governing expenses. But public outrage over the expenses, revealed in a report by Auditor-General Jacques Lapointe last month, prompted the board to convene under the gaze of television cameras on Tuesday, and, in quick succession, to pass a series of motions designed to rein in inappropriate spending.
MLAS on probation
The Chronicle-Herald (Halifax), March 4, 2010
Summary: Whoosh! For a moment there, we thought we were at the speed skating oval, not the legislature’s Red Room, as MLAs on the internal economy board whisked through a series of votes Tuesday to cut or tighten up MLA expenses and allowances. (Editorial)
Sorry hardest word for run-and-hide premier
The Chronicle-Herald (Halifax), March 4, 2010
Summary: Premier Darrell Dexter has been getting really, really bad advice. The NDP brain trust’s strategy thus far in handling the sizzling-hot MLA expense scandal has been to have the premier run and hide. When he’s finally been cornered, the plan has been to lecture taxpayers that it’s time to move on to more important, expensive matters. (Column)
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National Defence Introduces Modernized Ethics Program for Troops
Canadian military releases ethics guide for troops
National Post, March 2, 2010
Summary: The Canadian army has produced an ethics guide to help equip soldiers to be “ethical warriors” who will instinctively do the right thing. It addresses everything from cruelty and torture — “We don’t do that,” the guide says — to turning a blind eye when a comrade does something wrong.
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EU Launches Whistleblowers Site
EU launches whistle blowers site
EUBusiness, March 2, 2010
Summary: The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) on Monday launched a new anonymous online tip off system for “vigilant citizens” to report corruption cases. OLAF director general Nicholas Ilett said that EU civil servants are cautious about approaching the watchdog directly about cases where they suspect corruption.
