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March 25, 2014

Accountability & transparency for the whole of Parliament

I’ve spoken with many Canadians recently who’ve expressed that they want more transparency and greater accountability from their Government. They don’t want catch phrases. They don’t want promises. They want action; and given that both the Senate and the House of Commons represent the key link between Canadians and their government, it is our responsibility to keep up with these public demands.
The reality is that times change. Expectations change. Standards change. What was acceptable 20 years ago, 10 years ago – is not acceptable now.

This is why I tabled a motion in the Senate calling on Members of the House of Commons to join the Senate in its ongoing efforts to increase transparency. The key message in this motion would be to have all senators and members of parliament face the same level of scrutiny in terms of how they manage the public funds that have been entrusted to them by the Canadian people, the result of which would be one report that would provide a complete picture of how Parliament manages its accounts.

Truly, if we were to take the time to reflect on the important implications of this initiative, no one could argue that to audit only the Upper Chamber of Parliament without doing the other is to do half the job…less than half, actually, because the budget of the House of Commons is more than four times that of the Senate. It’s a matter of transparency, and there’s no such thing as partial transparency.

Auditors General past and present have advocated for independent, comprehensive audits of Parliament. In an appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs this past November, current Auditor General Michal Ferguson noted an audit would: “not only strengthen Members’ accountability but would also enhance the public’s confidence in the governance mechanisms of the House of Commons”. Mr. Ferguson’s remarks echo those of his immediate predecessor, Sheila Fraser, who once said simply: “I think Parliament’s auditor should audit Parliament”. 

Many MPs claim they are confident that their expenditures are in order. I believe them. After all, a 2012 study of a sample of parliamentarians’ expense claims showed that 98.5 per cent of those MP’s claims were properly documented. Canadians – however – want proof.  After all, that same study showed that 94.8 per cent of senators’ claims met that same standard, and we all know what has happened regarding senators’ expenses since then. The impact of these scandals can be found in a study that was conducted for the Privy Council Office last August which found that the accountability of politicians is one of the top of mind priorities for the public. Canadians are requesting that Parliament be more forthcoming in how it spends and where it spends. No reasonable argument can be made against the Auditor General conducting a review of the fiscal management of a public institution.

I do, however, want to salute the leadership shown by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May for her commitment to introduce a motion in the House of Commons asking the Auditor General to conduct a comprehensive audit of MP’s expenses. This comes in response to a letter I sent to all party leaders, asking them to consider such a measure. However, according to media reports, some Conservative MPs said no. And yet, Stephen Harper, Thomas Mulcair or Justin Trudeau could still move the motion and I look forward to their leadership on this issue.

Canadians want the job done, and the Auditor General is eager to do it. It is not enough for Parliamentarians to tell Canadians that they are managing their budgets with careful consideration; Canadians want transparency when it comes to the way their public institutions are run. To that end, Parliamentarians must provide proof of their fiscal accountability. Canadians deserve nothing less.

For further information:
Senator Percy Downe: 613-943-8107
Or toll free at 1-800-267-7362   
www.sen.parl.gc.ca/pdowne

 
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