A private member鈥檚 bill aimed at exposing partisanship in federal watchdog agencies carries more than a whiff of partisanship itself.
Conservative MP Mark Adler of Ontario has proposed a bill that would allow any MP or senator to accuse an employee of an office such as Elections sa国际传媒, the auditor general or the ethics commissioner of partisan conduct and demand an investigation.
Adler says his bill, which appears to have the backing of the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office, is in keeping with the government鈥檚 commitment to transparency and accountability, yet it would hamper the work of agencies whose responsibility it is to ensure that the government is transparent and accountable.
The bill is vague about what 鈥減artisanship conduct鈥� is, and does not require reasonable grounds for an accusation. It contains a McCarthyesque provision that would force agency employees to declare their political activities going back a decade. It seems to be a measure aimed at strengthening and shielding the Conservative party, rather than enhancing democracy and good government.
Understandably, the watchdogs are not happy with the proposal. Ethics commissioner Mary Dawson, chief electoral officer Mark Mayrand and auditor general Michael Ferguson appeared Tuesday at a hearing before MPs to express their opposition.
The bill is unnecessary. Other regulations stipulate that conduct of the employees of those agencies must be nonpartisan.
What鈥檚 next, a bill making it against the law to break a law?
