HAH! #2 (en francais)

As we swim through the murky waters of Canadian politics lately - Adscam, Paul Martin buying votes, Chretien trying to shutdown Gomery....

I think an appropriate HAH! today is Government Accountability.

B) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

2. Ministerial Accountability

A fundamental component of Parliamentary government is Ministerial accountability to Parliament. The Conservative Party is determined to enforce parliamentary principles of government accountability. Ministers in a Conservative Government will have authority and be accountable for the policies they implement and the administrative actions of their departments.

3. Public Service Excellence

A Conservative Government will ensure that Canadians have an efficient, effective, and independent professional public service. A Conservative Government will legislate whistleblowing protection to ensure that those who expose corruption and wrongdoing are protected from reprisal.

4. Sound Financial Management

i) A Conservative Government will strengthen the internal audit and comptrollership functions of government, ensuring that program delivery matches the intent of the program, spending is measured against objectives and cost overruns are brought immediately to the attention of Parliament.

ii) A Conservative Government will create the independent office of the Comptroller General reporting to Parliament with a mandate to ensure that the highest standards and practices of expenditure management are enforced in all federal departments, Crown corporations, agencies and foundations.

iii) A Conservative Government will restore the audit role of the Treasury Board.

iv) A Conservative Government will allow the Auditor General to table reports with the Clerk of the House of Commons when Parliament is not sitting, and have them made public through the Speaker. Currently, the Auditor General can only report when Parliament is sitting.

v) A Conservative Government will ensure transparency and accuracy of and confidence in the government’s finances by providing the Auditor General with full access to all documents from all federal organizations, including all agencies, Crown corporations, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Investment Board, and foundations. Currently, the Auditor General does not have full access to all of the government’s books.

5. Government Duplication and Waste

A Conservative Government will streamline government services and eliminate waste, unnecessary overlap and duplication between the levels of government.