Pubdate: Sat, 13 Jan 2018
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2018 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Bill Curry
Page: A18

TRUDEAU SAYS HE'S OPEN TO STRENGTHENING ETHICS LAWS

Justin Trudeau says he's open to tightening federal
conflict-of-interest laws and strengthening the powers of
parliamentary watchdogs after a year in which both he and his Finance
Minister were reprimanded by Canada's ethics commissioner.

The Prime Minister made the comments at the conclusion of a cabinet
retreat in London, Ont., where the government drafted plans for the
final half of its first mandate.

The government is enjoying solid poll numbers and a strong economy,
but is coming off a year that ended with a finding by outgoing ethics
commissioner Mary Dawson that Mr. Trudeau violated federal ethics laws
by accepting a 2016 island vacation hosted by the Aga Khan.

"I'm always happy to take recommendations from experts, from various
people like the outgoing commissioner or the incoming commissioner, on
how we can ensure that our institutions and the folks who protect and
uphold our institutions continue to be doing the best things, the best
way for Canadians," Mr. Trudeau said. "We remain open to looking at
ways of improving the role of various commissioners and look forward
to having many conversations about that in the coming months."

In an exit interview with The Globe and Mail, Ms. Dawson noted that
she had advocated unsuccessfully for years that Ottawa should plug a
loophole that allows MPs to avoid certain ethics rules by holding
shares or assets indirectly through a holding company.

That was the issue at hand in relation to Finance Minister Bill
Morneau's decision not to place his assets in a blind trust. That
matter is related to an investigation by the commissioner's office
into whether he was in a conflict of interest when he introduced
pension legislation.

Separately, Mr. Morneau was fined $200 last year by the ethics
commissioner for failing to properly disclose a corporate structure
related to a villa in France owned by the minister.

As for the government's 2018 policy agenda, Mr. Morneau said he is
focused on measures to boost the work-force participation rate of
women and to improve federal support for science. Mr. Trudeau said the
retreat was largely about how the government will deliver on its
remaining promises from the 2015 election campaign.

Perhaps the most challenging outstanding promise facing the government
is the pledge to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, which is
scheduled to take place in July.

The retreat included a visit by Peter Harder, the government's
representative in the Senate, who will be responsible for ensuring the
Red Chamber approves the government's marijuana legislation in time.

Mr. Trudeau said that legislation must be in place before the
government looks at the issue of whether to pardon Canadians who
currently have convictions for marijuana possession.

"We recognize that anyone who is currently purchasing marijuana is
participating in illegal activity that is funding criminal
organizations and street gangs and therefore we do not want to
encourage in any way people to engage in that behaviour until the law
is changed," he said. "Once the law is changed, we will of course
reflect on fairness in a way that is responsible, moving forward."
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MAP posted-by: Matt