Factual Code of Ethics and Paper Code of Ethics

Factual Code of Ethics and Paper Code of Ethics

Nipawin - November 25, 2000 - by: Mario deSantis

rock
bottom
The ethical standards of our political and corporate elite have touched rock bottom, yet this

same elitist leadership is looking for the enforcement of the 'Rule of Law', and the

establishment of a stronger 'Law and Order' system. Ironically, today, we have the news

that eight Toronto's policemen have been charged with fraud⁽¹⁾.

Gilles
Duceppe
What I think, is that this government is a manufacturer of recycled corrupted services,

and I must give some credit to Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe when he stated that

Jean Chretien called an early election because he was afraid of the results of police

investigations into his government handling of subsidies and grants⁽²⁾.

banana
republic
Referring to the current governmental corruption, Gordon Robertson, former head of the

Privy Council Office, has compared Canada to the older one-party political system of

Mexico⁽³⁾, while the National Post has equated Canada to a banana republic⁽⁴⁾. And this

authoritarian and recycled perception of our political system is factually included in a

document prepared by the Privy Council Office: the prime minister has 'the sole authority'

for setting standards of conduct for his government and then for deciding whether they

have been breached⁽⁵⁾. Now we know why the office of the Ethics Counselor is a farce⁽⁶⁾.

code
of ethics
Do we have a code of ethics for our parliamentarians? Yes, we have such a code of ethics,

but this code is just a paper code of ethics to cover and increase the assets of our

parliamentarians and their friends. The paper code of ethics has no factual relevance for our

parliamentarians, for the RCMP, for our legal community, and for our justice system.

However, I feel that we as citizens must know what is expected by our parliamentarians,

by our RCMP, by our legal community and by our justice system, and therefore I list

below the code of ethics⁽⁷⁾; only four clauses:

1. Ethical standards

Parliamentarians shall/should act with honesty and uphold the highest ethical standards, so as to maintain and enhance public confidence and trust in the integrity of each parliamentarian and in the institution of Parliament.

2. Public scrutiny

Parliamentarians shall/should perform their official duties and arrange their private affairs in a manner that will bear the closest public scrutiny, an obligation that is not fully discharged by simply acting within the law.

3. Independence

Parliamentarians shall/should take care to avoid placing themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organizations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties. Particular vigilance should be exercised in dealing with lobbyists.

4. Public interest

Upon election or appointment to office, parliamentarians shall/should arrange their private affairs so that foreseeable real or apparent conflicts of interest maybe prevented from arising, but if a conflict does arise, it shall/should be resolved in a way that protects the public interest.

-----------References/endnotes:

List of relevant political and economics articles http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign

1.
-
Cop bust spurs case reviews. Latest charges could affect ongoing drug trials, By ROB GRANATSTEIN, TORONTO SUN, Friday, November 24, 2000

2.
Duceppe targets P.C. defectors, CBC, WebPosted Mon Oct 23 14:40:27 2000,

3.
-
PM's power 'unhealthy': ex-official. Need checks and balances, Alan Toulin, November 23, 2000, National Post

4.
The rot at the top, October 19, 2000, National Post

5.
-
Ethics rest squarely on PM's shoulders: briefing paper, Eric Beauchesne, November 24, 2000, Southam News

6.
-
Prime Minister Jean Chretien: coping with his rules of ethics and his no-fault government, by Mario deSantis, November 23, 2000

7.
-
Appendix C on Principles of the Code of Official Conduct, Page 12-37 of the Report of the Auditor General of Canada-October 2000

Factual Code of Ethics and Paper Code of Ethics

Nipawin - November 25, 2000 - by: Mario deSantis

rock bottom	The ethical standards of our political and corporate elite have touched rock bottom, yet this
	same elitist leadership is looking for the enforcement of the 'Rule of Law', and the
	establishment of a stronger 'Law and Order' system. Ironically, today, we have the news
	that eight Toronto's policemen have been charged with fraud⁽¹⁾.

Gilles Duceppe	What I think, is that this government is a manufacturer of recycled corrupted services,
	and I must give some credit to Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe when he stated that
	Jean Chretien called an early election because he was afraid of the results of police
	investigations into his government handling of subsidies and grants⁽²⁾.

banana republic	Referring to the current governmental corruption, Gordon Robertson, former head of the
	Privy Council Office, has compared Canada to the older one-party political system of
	Mexico⁽³⁾, while the National Post has equated Canada to a banana republic⁽⁴⁾. And this
	authoritarian and recycled perception of our political system is factually included in a
	document prepared by the Privy Council Office: the prime minister has 'the sole authority'
	for setting standards of conduct for his government and then for deciding whether they
	have been breached⁽⁵⁾. Now we know why the office of the Ethics Counselor is a farce⁽⁶⁾.

code of ethics	Do we have a code of ethics for our parliamentarians? Yes, we have such a code of ethics,
	but this code is just a paper code of ethics to cover and increase the assets of our
	parliamentarians and their friends. The paper code of ethics has no factual relevance for our
	parliamentarians, for the RCMP, for our legal community, and for our justice system.
	However, I feel that we as citizens must know what is expected by our parliamentarians,
	by our RCMP, by our legal community and by our justice system, and therefore I list
	below the code of ethics⁽⁷⁾; only four clauses:

	1. Ethical standards
	Parliamentarians shall/should act with honesty and uphold the highest ethical standards, so as to maintain and enhance public confidence and trust in the integrity of each parliamentarian and in the institution of Parliament.

	2. Public scrutiny
	Parliamentarians shall/should perform their official duties and arrange their private affairs in a manner that will bear the closest public scrutiny, an obligation that is not fully discharged by simply acting within the law.

	3. Independence
	Parliamentarians shall/should take care to avoid placing themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organizations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties. Particular vigilance should be exercised in dealing with lobbyists.

	4. Public interest
	Upon election or appointment to office, parliamentarians shall/should arrange their private affairs so that foreseeable real or apparent conflicts of interest maybe prevented from arising, but if a conflict does arise, it shall/should be resolved in a way that protects the public interest.

-----------References/endnotes:

	List of relevant political and economics articles http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign

1. -	Cop bust spurs case reviews. Latest charges could affect ongoing drug trials, By ROB GRANATSTEIN, TORONTO SUN, Friday, November 24, 2000

2.	Duceppe targets P.C. defectors, CBC, WebPosted Mon Oct 23 14:40:27 2000,

3. -	PM's power 'unhealthy': ex-official. Need checks and balances, Alan Toulin, November 23, 2000, National Post

4.	The rot at the top, October 19, 2000, National Post

5. -	Ethics rest squarely on PM's shoulders: briefing paper, Eric Beauchesne, November 24, 2000, Southam News

6. -	Prime Minister Jean Chretien: coping with his rules of ethics and his no-fault government, by Mario deSantis, November 23, 2000

7. -	Appendix C on Principles of the Code of Official Conduct, Page 12-37 of the Report of the Auditor General of Canada-October 2000