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Update on the 8-Point
Action Plan
New Ministerial Guidelines
June 11, 2002
Fulfilling a pledge made in his May 23, 2002 address to the House of Commons
to enhance the trust of Canadians in our public institutions, Prime Minister
Jean Chrétien today released new guidelines for ministers and announced a
change to the appointment procedure for the Ethics Counsellor that will give the
office new stature in how it reports and operates.
The new guidelines, which will apply to all members of the Ministry, are part
of an Eight-Point Plan of Action on government ethics, the key elements of which
the Prime Minister outlined in his May 23rd speech.
Documents Released Today:
The Guide for Ministers and Secretaries of State.
The Guide contains the Prime Minister's personal advice to the members of the
Ministry on a wide range of issues, from ethical conduct to management
priorities, and reminds Ministers and Secretaries of State of their
constitutional, legal and ethical responsibilities while holding public office.
Guidelines for Ministerial Dealings with Crown Corporations
These guidelines will reinforce the managerial autonomy of Crown corporations
and limit direct contact between all members of the Ministry and Crown
corporations. In cooperation with Crown corporations, the offices of Ministers
responsible for Crown corporations will establish procedures so that their staff
can refer representations from parliamentarians and constituents to Crown
corporations for appropriate action.
Guidelines to Govern Ministerial Activities for Personal Political
Purposes.
Under these guidelines, Ministers may opt to put contributions in a blind
trust that will be disclosed no later than 30 days before a convention.
Donations, including contributions in kind, collected outside of a blind trust
or which otherwise become known to a Minister, must be disclosed every 60 days.
Funds, and donations in kind, received prior to the publication of these
guidelines will be disclosed within 30 days. Those working on a Minister's
leadership campaign will be ineligible either to lobby or to receive contracts
from the Minister's department or any agencies in the portfolio. Ministerial
exempt staff wishing to become engaged full time in a leadership campaign must
take a leave of absence without pay or resign.
New Appointment Procedure for the Ethics Counsellor
The Prime Minister announced today that the Ethics Counsellor will be
appointed after consultation with the leaders of the opposition parties, serving
for a term of 5 years. Further, dismissal could only take place with the
concurrence of Parliament.
In addition, the Ethics Counsellor will inquire into complaints, or other
matters related to a Minister of the Crown, referred to his Office by any member
of Parliament. As promised by the Prime Minister on May 23, 2002, there will now
be an annual report on the activities of the Office of the Ethics Counsellor
that will be presented to the Speaker of the House.
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