• Privacy Commissioner's expenses more exorbitant than former Labour Board boss, Ted Weatherill
  
• Independent Officers of Parliament not immune from duty to prudently manage public funds
  
• Integrity of the Office requires Radwanski's resignation

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today called for Privacy Commissioner George Radwanski to tender his resignation over revelations of massive expenses - some $500,000 over two years - which were not fully disclosed before a Parliamentary Committee.

Surpassing the Weatherill precedent
" The last time a senior public servant's expenses were of such interest to Parliamentarians was 1998 and the interest centred on the fine-dining and well-appointed accommodation tastes of former Canada Labour Relations Board Chair, Ted Weatherill. But the expense amounts now in the public domain for Mr. Radwanski and senior members of his staff eclipse the abuses of Mr. Weatherill. Quite simply, they are over the top," stated CTF federal director Walter Robinson.

" Parliament is ultimately responsible for the expenditure of all public monies and the conduct of its independent officers. Parliament must now speak to the issue of the confidence it does or does not have in Mr. Radwanski."

Prudence in conduct is the first duty of any public servant
" Mr. Radwanski has vigourously defended the privacy rights of Canadians and exercised his mandate fully to question the government and educate Canadians of real and future potential abuses of their right to privacy as a result of government actions," added Robinson. "However, equally important is the probity and prudence by which he manages taxpayer dollars in the execution of his mandate. Independent officers of Parliament are not immune from this duty. And it is now clear that he has failed in this duty."

Only option left
" For the sake of the enduring and important value of the office which he holds and its institutional integrity, we encourage Mr. Radwanski to resign immediately," concluded Robinson.