Taxpayers Federation urges Prime Minister to set new ethical standard

Letter to the Prime Minister

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today praised the Prime Minister's recent reading of the 'riot act' to potential successors to his post leader of the Liberal party of Canada.

Laying down the law -
Last week the Prime Minister concluded the national Liberal caucus meeting stating unequivocally he would not tolerate any campaigning by sitting Cabinet ministers. Mr. Chretien said: "They can't organize campaigns and actually raise funds. If they want to have the same advantages as Mr. Martin, they can do the same thing as Mr. Martin - resign. There will be quite a few guys willing to take their place."

Time to take it to the next level -
"The Prime Minister is bang-on to rein in the ambitious potential successors in his Cabinet, but he should go further," said CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "Mr. Chretien should insist that all Cabinet ministers wishing to pursue the Liberal leadership resign their cabinet posts once the contest officially begins to minimize the clear and present danger that public dollars will become entwined in a private and partisan political contest."

Letter makes the case -
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Robinson notes the "forthcoming Liberal leadership race yields a great opportunity to translate the words of the government's new focus on ethics and transparency into concrete action by raising the bar and setting a new legacy benchmark for leadership campaigns conducted by parties in power."

Canadians tired of abuse of the process -
"Whether it was the Saskatchewan NDP leadership in the fall of 2000 or the recent PC contest in Ontario, government jets, staff, consultation frameworks and other resources were blatantly abused for partisan purposes," added Robinson. "No wonder Canadians exhibit such cynicism towards the political process."

"Running for the leadership of a political party is a full-time pursuit. But so is serving as Minister of the Crown. You simply shouldn't be allowed to do both," concluded Robinson. "By acting on our suggestion, the Prime Minister would leave a lasting and beneficial political legacy with respect to the conduct of leadership campaigns. Clearly this is the ethical path to follow. It's time to stop talking the talk, it's now time to start walking the walk."