Cons to Weaken Lobbyist Rules

[Saturn]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...tory/Front/home

Poor Conservatives are so eager to jump on the gravy train, they can't wait a few months for the election to pass before they make a mockery of their so-called Accountability Act.

OTTAWA — The Harper government has opened the door to a watering down of its vaunted strategy to crack down on lobbying, as it contemplates forcing lobbyists to only report their formal verbal communications with federal officials, documents show.

Under proposals that are circulating in the government-relations industry in Ottawa, lobbyists would not have to report “spontaneous” verbal communications with government officials, nor would they have to disclose e-mail or other written exchanges.

The proposals stand in contrast to the Conservative Party's pledge in the 2006 election to “require ministers and senior government officials to record their contacts with lobbyists.”

At the time, the Conservative Party vowed to stop the back-and-forth between the worlds of politics and lobbying, which it said was corrupting government. In particular, a number of lobbyists were working for the government as well as for the Liberal leadership campaign or with Liberal ministers.

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“It's just a huge loophole. People will say, ‘Let's go golfing and have a spontaneous communication,' ” said Duff Conacher, co-ordinator at Democracy Watch.

“The Conservatives have clearly broken their promise to end secret lobbying,” he said.

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A spokesman for the Treasury Board confirmed that the Accountability Act will not force federal officials to record their own contacts with lobbyists. “The onus is on the lobbyist to report,” said Robert Makichuk, chief of media relations at Treasury Board.

[na85]

It's ok though, because the Liberals under Martin and Chretien were corrupt and had the Sponsorship Scandal.

[Topaz]

It's ok though, because the Liberals under Martin and Chretien were corrupt and had the Sponsorship Scandal.

Have you ever heard two WRONGS don't make it RIGHT??? Just think the power Harper would have with a majority government!! We would have a US-Bush-type govt and alot of people would regret voting for this ???????!!! Just hope all you Alliance/Cons support that he doesn't send you kid over to war if he gets a majority. The military is needs soldiers now, so you better think twice when the election comes.

[na85]

lol, I think you missed the sarcasm in my post.

[madmax]

Lots of people had high expectations. Even people whom did not vote for them thought they would be different in this regards. But just more of the same.

May as well be Mulroney and Chretian again.

[Saturn]

Lots of people had high expectations. Even people whom did not vote for them thought they would be different in this regards. But just more of the same.

May as well be Mulroney and Chretian again.

I expected they would stay clean until the next election. Harpocrite began bashing my hopes the day he announced his cabinet. Yep, my expectations were unreasonably high.

[geoffrey]

Having lobbyists keep track of every nod in the hallway was unreasonable, and a large area of criticism from the opposition parties. The CPC made such a concession as it is reasonable.

[Catchme]

So, here we have Harper NOT, utilizing all Gomery's accoutnability positions that would make elected officials accountable for such things as sponsorship payoffs, and NOW we have Harper bringing back sponsorship. The only thing is Harper et al are less accountable than the Liberals ever were.

So I guess we can look forward to way more of tax dollars being used to payoff party supporters.

[Who's Doing What?]

Just more of the same.

It is unfortunate that the Right has no other alternative. They will be voting in a liberal Govt. whether they like it or not.

[Michael Bluth]

Having lobbyists keep track of every nod in the hallway was unreasonable, and a large area of criticism from the opposition parties. The CPC made such a concession as it is reasonable.

Still stronger than the Liberal lobbyist rules...