100 Day Action Plan: Real consequences for breaking ethics laws

New Conservative government to bring
real accountability and transparency to government

A new
Conservative government will introduce legislation to attach stiff penalties
for violating ethics laws and strengthen the powers of parliamentary watchdogs
during its first 100 days, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer announced today.

Scheer said he
will establish penalties for violations of the Conflict of Interest Act that do not currently carry penalties. The
penalties will be proportional to the severity of the violation and the
seniority of the offender and they will carry a maximum fine of $20,000. This
includes the sections of the Act that
deal with conflict of interest, preferential treatment, insider information, influence,
accepting gifts and other violations.

“When you break
ethics laws, as Justin Trudeau has done twice, there should be real
consequences,” Scheer said. “As Prime Minister, I will make sure politicians
who break the law to benefit themselves and their friends will pay a heavy
price.”

When Finance
Minister Bill Morneau failed to disclose his villa in France to the Ethics
Commissioner, he was only forced to pay a fine of $200.

When Justin
Trudeau was found guilty of violating the Conflict
of Interest Act for accepting a free vacation to the Aga Khan’s private
island and for interfering in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, there were
no penalties at all.

“Canadians
expect accountability when their leaders violate the law and violate their
trust and that’s what I will deliver,” Scheer said.

Currently, the
maximum fine for breaching the Conflict
of Interest Act is five hundred dollars, and only applies when public
office holders fail to meet reporting requirements.

A new Conservative government will also restore accountability and
transparency in government by:

Increasing oversight powers of the Ethics
Commissioner and Lobbying Commissioner
Strengthening lobbying restrictions
Closing the loophole in the Conflict of Interest
Act that allows the indirect holding of shares by Cabinet ministers
Introducing legislative reforms for whistleblowers

Scheer has already announced he will hold a judicial inquiry into the
SNC-Lavalin scandal and pass the No More
Cover Ups Act, which will prevent corrupt politicians from using Cabinet
confidence to cover up their scandals.

“In 2015,
Justin Trudeau promised he would be ethical and accountable. Every day since
then, he has proven that he is not as advertised,” Scheer said. “Time and time
again, he and his Ministers have abused the power of their office for their own
personal gain. A Prime Minister who so willingly deceives and breaks the law
simply cannot be entrusted with the duties and responsibilities of governing
for Canada.”

On October 21, Canadians
have a choice between Justin Trudeau who abuses his power, bends the law for
his friends, attempts to silence his critics and destroys their reputations – and
a Conservative government led by Andrew Scheer who will uphold the rule of law,
respect our democratic institutions, and help all Canadians get ahead.

FACTS:

The
Conflict of Interest Act was
introduced by the previous Conservative government through the Federal Accountability Act, replacing
the Conflict of Interest and
Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders.
Currently
Canada’s Conflict of Interest Act “does not provide for any sanctions
for breaches found following an examination by the conflict of interest and
ethics commissioner.”
The
only penalties the Ethics Commissioner has the power to impose under the Act are “administrative monetary
penalties,” which only apply when public office holders fail to meet
reporting requirements.