Liberal

Raising the bar for democracy and transparency

In the welter of bad news lately about politics and politicians, it’s important to maintain some perspective beyond the multiple scandals that have engulfed and so tarnished the Harper Conservatives.

Yes, it’s the essential job of opposition leaders to expose the government’s failings.  But criticism alone is not enough.  It’s also essential to set high standards and propose fresh ideas to make government better.  From the beginning of his leadership campaign, that has been Justin Trudeau’s strength — giving Canadians good reasons to vote FOR him, not just AGAINST the other guy.

A powerful example is the way he has handled the controversy about his personal business as a motivational speaker helping community organizations raise funds for good causes.

That work was fully approved by the Ethics Commissioner.  Justin followed all the rules.  He made complete early disclosure before any issues arose.  He fully honoured all his contractual obligations.  And in an extra demonstration of leadership, he has offered compensation or other personal assistance to any group that has an outstanding concern.

In that constructive spirit, he has also developed an aggressive agenda for Parliamentary, electoral and political reform to strengthen Canadian democracy and improve financial transparency.

For example, he wants the expenses of all Members of Parliament, not just Cabinet Ministers, to be published on a pro-active basis every quarter.  He also wants regular performance audits on the House of Commons by the Auditor General, and clear guidelines for when the AG would be asked to do other examinations.

Here are more of Justin’s ideas:

• All nominations for people to run as candidates for Parliament should be open and democratic.  No pre-canned appointments.

• Once in the House of Commons, there should be less “whipping” along Party-lines and more free votes that let duly-elected MPs think for themselves and assume full accountability for their decisions.

• Parliament’s control over government spending should be bolstered.  There should be an annual deadline for presenting each year’s budget.  MPs should have the power to veto wasteful spending like partisan government advertising.  Parliament’s explicit approval should be required before any money is borrowed.

• The Parliamentary Budget Officer should be truly independent and adequately funded.

• Proper fences are needed to limit the use of Omnibus Bills, Closure and Prorogation, keeping them to their original parliamentary purposes (not crude devices to impair democracy).

• Every vote in every Parliamentary Committee should be open to the public.

• Elections Canada needs to be strengthened with the funding, personnel, expertise, supervisory capacity, investigative powers and legal tools to ensure fair and competent elections and to root out election fraud.

• The electoral boundaries commissions that are required periodically to draw-up new federal constituencies must be truly independent, non-partisan and quasi-judicial — free from political interference and harassment.

• And we need a fairer, more accurate voting system to replace our current first-past-the-post regime which so often produces distorted outcomes.  A good start would be a “preferential ballot”.

A common principle in all of Justin’s proposals is a shift in power, away from a domineering Prime Minister’s Office, and toward individual citizens and the MPs they properly choose to represent them.  That would be a distinct improvement.

Ralph Goodale

Deputy Liberal Leader

Canada Must Lead – Not Backtrack – in the Global Fight to End Violence Against Women

Canadians expect their government to be a leader on the world stage, standing proudly for Canadian values – not an obstacle for progress. Chairing the negotiations of the annual Human Rights Council resolution on Violence Against Women offers Canadians an opportunity to express our deeply-held beliefs in defending human rights, and to bring countries and civil society together to advance protections for women and girls against violence.

In the past, Canadians have been proud of Canada’s actions at the HRC. This year, however, the Conservatives have abdicated a leadership role in yet another area at the United Nations, putting forward a regressive and damaging approach to the annual resolution on Violence Against Women. Canada has not treated the topic of sexual and reproductive rights and health with the meaningful consideration and respect that it deserves. The government has used its position as chair of the negotiations to undermine any and all explicit references to essential sexual and reproductive health services for survivors of sexual violence, reaffirming the Conservatives’ failure to recognize the linkages between sexual and reproductive health, sexual and reproductive rights, and sexual violence. As many have noted, refusing to include a comprehensive package of services that are essential to survivors of sexual violence is a serious attack on women’s rights and the health and wellbeing of those survivors.

Minister Baird’s speeches include numerous references to the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls. So why did he instruct the Canadian delegation at the UN to dismiss key proposals related to the prevention of sexual violence, including references to reproductive rights and gender equality?

Liberals firmly believe that the Canadian government must be an advocacy leader for the rights of women and girls, and that includes standing up for their sexual and reproductive rights and health. We must push for high international standards, not roll back on international agreements that we are party to, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. With the adoption of the Conservative language in the Human Rights Council’s resolution on Violence Against Women, Canada has demonstrated that it can no longer be counted on for strong leadership on women’s rights at the UN, or as a leading force to push for concrete steps that will provide survivors of sexual violence with the support and services that they urgently need. The United States objected to the omission of specific provisions for survivors of sexual violence, while Brazil, representing a coalition of 19 countries including many Nordic states, expressed dismay that the resolution did not reaffirm commitments agreed to almost 20 years ago at the Beijing World Conference on Women.

The Conservatives have to put aside their regressive views and advocate for the inclusion of essential sexual and reproductive health services for survivors of sexual violence, including crucial services such as emergency contraception, safe abortion, and diagnosis and screening for sexually transmitted infections, among others. We owe it to our women and girls.

Bob Rae

Liberal Foreign Affairs critic

Scenes from the road: Montreal, QC (June 7, 2013)

Justin in his constituency office in Montreal. June 2013. Photo: Adam Scotti

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Help me open up Parliament

The recent ethical lapses in the Prime Minister’s office show Canadians need more openness and accountability from their Leaders.

Some people think that change can come from the top-down. But I know that real change can only come from Canadians like you.

That’s why today I announced our Open Parliament plan including common sense reforms, like posting all Parliamentarians’ expenses online and developing a clear role for the Auditor-General in ensuring proper spending in Parliament.

Now I want you to help me build on this plan.

Share your ideas on how we can once again raise the bar on transparency and tell me what you think of the reforms I’ve already proposed.

Canadians know the difference between right and wrong. Now I want your ideas on how we can ensure that our representatives in Ottawa play by the same rules as everyone else.

Take a minute to give me your input on how we can raise the bar on transparency, and share your opinion on the common sense reforms I’ve already proposed:

www.justin.ca/soapbox

Thanks.

Justin

Justin Trudeau speaks to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Justin Trudeau’s address to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Vancouver on June 2, 2013.