Canada's Information Commissoner Launches Scathing Attack On Harper

[Nehkara]

ACCOUNTABILITY ACT 'A BUREAUCRAT'S DREAM,' INFORMATION COMISSIONER SAYS

Canada's information commissioner launched a scathing attack against Stephen Harper on Friday, charging that the prime minister has done a complete about-face on a promise to make government more accountable.

In a special report to Parliament, John Reid said he had "grave concerns" about the Conservative's proposed accountability act, which is now under debate. He charged that it will actually reduce openness in government and make it easier to cover up potentially embarrassing scandals. Employing unusually strong language, Reid said the legislation "will not strengthen the accountability of government through transparency, it will weaken it.

"No previous government has put forward a more retrograde and dangerous set of proposals to change the Access to Information Act," he wrote. "The new government has done exactly the things for which its predecessor had been ridiculed."

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/natio...nt-060428.html

[Devils'Advocate]

See. I've been bashing the Liberals for years. NOT for the sponsership scandal, but for NOT sweeping it under the rug. Mulroney, Chretien, they both had an amazing penchant for sweeping scandals under the rug. Their abuse of power was always downplayed.

Paul Martin on the other hand, had their dirty laundry aired in public by an independant judge. He had their abuse of power documented and put up for public scrutiny daily. That's just stupid.

I like what the Conservatives are doing here. They are laying the groundwork so that Canadians never know when their government is abusing their power. This way they know their corruption will never be caught, because Canadian citizens will never know about it.

[FireFly]

Odd because everyone else has said Harper's proposals have gone too far... Perhaps this part: "weaken the role of the information commissioner" is the one that concerns him most? After all, it is the information commissioner speaking here.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Odd because everyone else has said Harper's proposals have gone too far... Perhaps this part: "weaken the role of the information commissioner" is the one that concerns him most? After all, it is the information commissioner speaking here.

Well when you create a position designed to prevent scandals and then weaken that position's power, then there is a problem.

[Resolute 14]

I'm rather curious where, in the Information Commissioner's mandate, it says his job is to prevent scandals?

FireFly's point remains valid. Why is it that the only guy making a big stink about this is one guy who will be directly impacted? I'm sure there is absolutely no conflict of interest here, whatsoever.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

I'm rather curious where, in the Information Commissioner's mandate, it says his job is to prevent scandals?

FireFly's point remains valid. Why is it that the only guy making a big stink about this is one guy who will be directly impacted? I'm sure there is absolutely no conflict of interest here, whatsoever.

Or... maybe since his term is ending in the fall anyway he is being especially frank since his job is not on the line?

[Resolute 14]

Maybe. I havent read the bill, so I do not know if he is accurate one way or another.

I do see a conflict of interest, however, so I find it extremely easy to dismiss his concerns. We are talking about a Liberal era beaurocrat, afterall. If others pick up on it, then I might give it some weight.

[jimmy11]

Ya, to me this is looking out for number and nothing more.

Everyone else has been saying things like "this bill is like using a sledge hammer to kill a bug".

[White Doors]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

I'm rather curious where, in the Information Commissioner's mandate, it says his job is to prevent scandals?

FireFly's point remains valid. Why is it that the only guy making a big stink about this is one guy who will be directly impacted? I'm sure there is absolutely no conflict of interest here, whatsoever.

BINGO!

Canadians, by and large, need better critical reading skills. There is so much crap coming out like this driven by an agenda it's crazy. Like the union groups whining about no massive child care program? Well d'uh, they only want to get a larger union membership. The agenda driven crap that the Canadian Press throws out and doesn't mention any of this drives me crazy.