Today, in the House of Commons, the Honourable John Baird, P.C., M.P., the Member for Ottawa West—Nepean and President of the Treasury Board tabled An Act providing for conflict of interest rules, restrictions on election financing and measures respecting administrative transparency, oversight and accountability — or, as it has become more commonly known as, its short title of the Federal Accountability Act.
On the issue of this Act, I am somewhat torn; while I agree with the principle of the legislative measures that the Government of Canada is attempting to take, I don't agree with the method by which they are attempting to do them — I am not, by my nature, a huge fan of omnibus legislation. The Act contains three hundred seventeen sections, and is over two hundred pages long — and it has attached Schedules. The Act is huge, and even some members of the Government of Canada have mentioned that the measures are hard to read and understand in their current form.
I have reservations on the issue of funding — if this Act is passed, and parties are no longer permitted to receive funds from unions and organizations, then I fear some parties, such as the New Democratic Party of Canada, would be at a serious disadvantage (as a party that somewhat relies on union funding). Moreover, this Act would create seven new Crown corporations — which seems odd, given that the governing party has tended to be opposed to "more Government" in the past.
However, I suppose the legislative measures in this Act deserve a chance — which is why I intend to reserve my judgement until I have read through the Act in its entirety. It's long, indeed, but I don't think it would be quite appropriate for me to say "year" or "nay", on my part, until I know what it is I'm talking about, eh?
Discuss : The Federal Accountability Act.
:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada.
2. Click here for the Web site of the Parliament of Canada.
:?: Click here to read Bill C-2.The Web site of the [color=blue said:
On the issue of this Act, I am somewhat torn; while I agree with the principle of the legislative measures that the Government of Canada is attempting to take, I don't agree with the method by which they are attempting to do them — I am not, by my nature, a huge fan of omnibus legislation. The Act contains three hundred seventeen sections, and is over two hundred pages long — and it has attached Schedules. The Act is huge, and even some members of the Government of Canada have mentioned that the measures are hard to read and understand in their current form.
I have reservations on the issue of funding — if this Act is passed, and parties are no longer permitted to receive funds from unions and organizations, then I fear some parties, such as the New Democratic Party of Canada, would be at a serious disadvantage (as a party that somewhat relies on union funding). Moreover, this Act would create seven new Crown corporations — which seems odd, given that the governing party has tended to be opposed to "more Government" in the past.
However, I suppose the legislative measures in this Act deserve a chance — which is why I intend to reserve my judgement until I have read through the Act in its entirety. It's long, indeed, but I don't think it would be quite appropriate for me to say "year" or "nay", on my part, until I know what it is I'm talking about, eh?
Discuss : The Federal Accountability Act.
:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada.
2. Click here for the Web site of the Parliament of Canada.