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Cleaning up and making governments and corporations more accountable to you,  and making Canada the world's leading democracy
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Democracy Watch News
NOTE: Some links will take you to a media webpage not controlled by Democracy Watch,
and the article or interview may no longer be available, or only available to subscribers.
All Media Coverage 1993-2012 To see what's new by issue, go to Campaigns

WEBSITE ARTICLE: MPs must work together to make changes to restrict power of party leaders (Canada.com and 11 Postmedia News newspapers across Canada, January 31, 2012)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: If MPs were covered by Access to Information Act, their unethical spending on party activities would be revealed (HuffingtonPost.ca, January 30, 2012)

NEWS RELEASE: Groups urge Senate to question whistleblower watchdog Mario Dion, and to end 5-year muzzling of civil society (January 30, 2012) -- To see related iPolitics.ca article, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Ontario Liberals being undemocratic and secretive in budgeting process, unlike minority government should be (CBC.ca and 18 other media outlets across Canada, all publishing CanadianPress.com wire article, January 27, 2012 -- See article also on GlobalNews.ca)

NEWS RELEASE: Five years after requirements became law, has Treasury Board ensured that all federal government institutions provide legally-required whistleblower protection? (January 26, 2012)

LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: If Auditor General had audited MPs as she should have, Duceppe situation would have been cleared up years ago (Globe and Mail, January 25, 2012; Hill Times, January 30, 2012)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Governments across Canada, such as the City of Hamilton, continue to fail to operate openly by disclosing information the public has a right to know (Hamilton Spectator, January 19, 2012) -- To see related Spectator editorial, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Federal Conservatives must commit to strengthening access-to-information, ethics, lobbying, political finance, financial administration, public consultation and whistleblower protection laws and enforcement to fulfill their international Open Government Partnership (OGP) membership requirements (January 17, 2012)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conservatives have so far broken almost all their 2006 election open government promises, and their international Open Government Partnership (OGP) commitments -- will Conservatives' final April 2012 OGP Action Plan also break their commitments? (Canada.com and 13 Postmedia News newspapers across Canada, January 3, 2012) -- To see related news release, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Senate ethics rules and enforcement are a bad joke -- weak and full of loopholes (Globe and Mail, December 31, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: New federal Integrity Commissioner misleads on CBC TV about his past statement that applying for job while in Interim Commissioner position created conflict for him (December 22, 2011)

OP-ED: Honesty in politics is the best policy, and so it should be required by law (iPolitics.ca, December 22, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Alberta Premier refuses to disclose details of Conservative Party payments to her -- loopholes in laws that allow for secrecy must be closed (Calgary Herald and 2 other PostMedia newspapers, December 22, 2011)

TV INTERVIEW: New Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Mario Dion misleads about past statements about ethics of applying for job, and tries to excuse his very questionable record (CBC's Power and Politics show, December 21, 2011) -- To see related CBC.ca article, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Parliament watchdogs (except Ethics Commissioner) echo Democracy Watch's call for more accountability for the watchdogs (Ottawa Citizen, December 20-21, 2011) -- To see related article, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Ethics Commissioner finally acknowledges one huge loophole in Conflict of Interest Act and ethics rules, but still fails to acknowledge other loopholes (CBC.ca, December 21, 2011) -- To see related op-ed, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Groups silenced, former integrity officer ignored as whistleblower watchdog appointment is rammed through committee -- Groups call on opposition MPs and Conservative MPs with integrity to vote against appointment in House vote (December 14, 2011) -- To see related CBC.ca article, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Groups call for 10 questions to be answered about Government’s plan to appoint toothless whistleblower watchdog (December 13, 2011) -- To see related Canada.com article, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Commissioner of Lobbying calls for power to fine illegal lobbyists, but loopholes in law need to be closed to make law effective (Globe and Mail, December 13, 2011) -- Also, to see iPolitics.ca article, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Federal Conservatives' Accountability and Democratic Reform Record Gets An "F" For Breaking Many Promises and Practising Politics As Usual (December 12, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Huge loopholes in federal Lobbying Act mean that lobbyists continue to be let off when they lobby in secret without registering, even if they are found guilty of violating the Lobbyists' Code (Toronto Star, December 12, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Public has a right to know details about severance package for New Brunswick Power boss (CanadaEast.com, December 10, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: As International Anti-Corruption Day again passes by, Canadian governments continue to fail to fulfill UN Convention Against Corruption requirements and other international good government standards  (December 9, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: Federal government action needed to ensure record big bank profits not based on gouging and ignoring job-creating businesses -- Comprehensive audits, and new Financial Consumer Organization needed for effective bank and financial services industry accountability, and for financial literacy (Canadian Community Reinvestment Coalition news release, December 9, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: Whistleblower watchdog nomination signals continued retreat by government from transparency and accountability promises -- Groups call on opposition parties to ensure, through filibuster if needed, they testify at committee before Conservatives ram appointment through (December 8, 2011) -- To see related CBC.ca article, click here -- To see related Globe and Mail article, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Federal Conservatives break all of their international Open Government Partnership commitments by failing to consult with Canadians about their draft action plan before meeting in Brazil this week (December 5, 2011) -- To see related CBC.ca article, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conservatives broke open government election promises in 2006, now hypocrital to criticize CBC's secrecy (Globe and Mail, November 25, 2011)

OP-ED: Elections Canada makes one ruling public, but keeps more than 2,280 other rulings secret (Rabble.ca on November 11, 2011, Tyee.ca and StraightGoods.ca on November 16, 2011, TheMarkNews.com on November 18, 2011, and in the Hill Times on November 21, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: As usual, lapdog federal Ethics Commissioner ignores ethics issues and rubberstamps Conservatives' actions as ethical (Hill Times, November 16, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Event on Parliament Hill organized by federal Conservative Cabinet ministers and involving lobbyists violates federal ethics rules and allows for secret lobbying (Hill Times, November 16, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conservative Cabinet ministers Tony Clement, Peter Van Loan, Lisa Raitt and Conservative MPs and senators help private club with event, raising serious questions about ethics rule violations (Hill Times, November 15, 2011)
WEBSITE ARTICLE: Changing voting system, requiring honesty in politics and accountability are best ways to increase voter turnout, not electronic voting (CBC.ca and three other media outlets (all publishing Canadian Press wire article), November 9, 2011) -- To see related news release, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Elections Canada's rulings secret on 2,284 complaints since 2004 -- Federal politicians continue to fail to ensure key good government watchdogs are doing their jobs properly (November 8, 2011) -- To see related Winnipeg Free Press article, click here

OP-ED: If GRIC's proposals are implemented, secret lobbying will still be legal, and even more unethical lobbying will be legal (Hill Times, November 7, 2011)

LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: Federal Conservatives' bill closes one loophole in political finance system, but fails to close other huge loopholes (Globe and Mail, November 4, 2011)

LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: Federal Commissioner of Lobbying finally issues rulings after 10 years of delay, but enforcement is still very weak, and lobbying law still has huge loopholes (Epoch Times, November 4, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Ten years after Democracy Watch files complaint, federal Commissioner of Lobbying finally finds former Jean Chrétien aide Réné Fugère guilty of violating federal lobbying rules (Globe and Mail, November 2, 2011) -- To see comment on article by Democracy Watch Founding Director Duff Conacher, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal lobbying association's proposals would leave loopholes that allow for secret lobbying, and make even more unethical lobbying legal (Hill Times, October 31, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conservatives' bill will leave open loopholes that allow for unlimited loans, and secret unlimited donations to nomination and party leadership race candidates (Canada.com and Edmonton Journal, October 31, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Saskatchewan, like every jurisdiction in Canada, needs an honesty-in-politics law (Planet S magazine, October 20, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: Federal Conservatives did bail out Canada's big banks in 2009 -- now must finally take action to ensure banks and other financial institutions service, lending, investment and prices are fair and responsible (Canadian Community Reinvestment Coalition, October 18, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conservatives may weaken public servant ethics rules in same way Cabinet, MP and senator rules have huge loophole (Hill Times, October 17, 2011)

LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: Huge loopholes in federal lobbying law must be closed to end secret, unethical lobbying (Hill Times, October 17, 2011)

TV INTERVIEW: Founding Director Duff Conacher interviewed about Occupy Canada protests across Canada and key corporate responsibility and bank accountability measures (CTV News Channel, October 15, 2011)

TV INTERVIEW: Founding Director Duff Conacher on Occupy Canada protests across Canada and key corporate responsibility and bank accountability measures (Sun News, October 15, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal MPs have failed to use their power to ensure effective examination of government budgets (GlobalNews.ca, October 14, 2011)

OP-ED: People are asking for protection from corporate greed and wrongdoing – will Canada’s politicians finally give it? (October 13-14, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conservative Cabinet minister Lisa Raitt's 2009 fundraising event resulted in ruling that two lobbyists violated ethics rules by helping with event, now Minister Raitt again faces allegations of unethical relationship with lobbyists (Canoe.ca and 7 other SunMedia newspapers across Canada, October 14, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: Occupy Canada protesters should support 15 key bank and corporate responsibility changes endorsed by 140 citizen groups across Canada for the past decade (October 12, 2011) -- To see related iPolitics.ca article, click here, and CBC.ca article, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Taiwan admits it uses sponsored travel as way of influencing Canadian MPs (Embassy magazine, October 12, 2011)

RADIO INTERVIEW: Founding Director Duff Conacher on why no one should be surprised that voter turnout was lower in the Ontario provincial election (CBC Radio Toronto's Here and Now show, October 7, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: Ontarians should not be surprised at record low voter turnout in provincial election (October 7, 2011) -- To see related CBC.ca article, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Corporations provide about 50% of donated money to Ontario Liberal Party, and 43% to Conservative Party, and unions about 28% to NDP -- 99% of Green Party donors are individuals (October 5, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conservatives make undemocratic move of cutting per-vote annual funding for federal political parties (Globe and Mail, October 4, 2011) -- To see related Maclean's magazine blog posting, click here

OP-ED: Federal lobbying law has huge loopholes that allow for secret, unethical lobbying (Hill Times, October 3, 2011) -- To see related article in the Hill Times, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Green Party receives D- best grade of bad overall grades in Report Card on Ontario Parties' Good Government Platforms -- Conservatives receive an E, NDP an F and Liberals an Incomplete (September 30, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: Because Ontario Liberals broke their 2003 election promise, Ontario election and government up for sale to wealthy interests -- Federal government, other provinces, and the territories, have similar undemocratic flaws in their laws that must be corrected (September 29, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: Group hopes media will ask party leaders in election campaigns "If you break promises, will you resign?" and "Will you support passage of honesty-in-politics law?" (September 27, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: Democracy Watch plans court challenge of Elections Ontario's failure to inform voters of their right to decline their ballot -- Information and ads during election campaign missing key messages to encourage voter turnout (September 22, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Elections agencies, not media, must oversee election debates, and criteria for participation must be fair (CTV.ca, Globe and Mail and two other newspapers (all publishing CanadianPress.com article), September 19, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: Democracy Watch marks Fourth International Day of Democracy -- Calls on political parties across Canada to make much-needed democratizing changes (September 15, 2011)

OP-ED: Federal ethics and related rules a loophole-filled, weakly enforced bad joke -- Oliphant Commission report's recommendations continue to be ignored by Conservatives (September 12, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Ontario voters hurt by too early fixed election date, voting system, and Elections Ontario's failure to inform about right to decline ballot (CTV.ca, September 11, 2011)

NEWS RELEASE: NDP and Liberals could hold first-ever democratic leadership races for any federal party -- Perfect time to change the law for all party leadership races (September 8, 2011) -- To see related CanadianPress.com article which ran on CTV.ca and in 21 other media outlets across Canada, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Early October federal and provincial fixed voting days shut out people with kids, and university and college students (August 31, 2011) -- To see related Canadian Press wire article, published by GlobalNews.ca and 19 other media outlets across Canada, click here

NEWS RELEASE: Elections Ontario continues to fail to inform voters of their full voting rights -- Information and ads during election campaign must have key messages to encourage voter turnout (August 24, 2011) -- To see related Ottawa Citizen article, click here

WEBSITE ARTICLE: MPs' and Senators' ethics codes have huge loophole that allow them to vote on changes that affect their financial interests, must be closed (Hill Times, August 22, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: Federal Conservatives continue to fail to keep 2006 election promise to strengthen Access to Information Act (Hill Times, August 22, 2011)

WEBSITE ARTICLE: City of Ottawa government hurts accountability by deleting city emails after 90 days (Metro News (Ottawa), August 22, 2011)
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