Yes, I will. Thank you very much.
Citizens will still face very high barriers to banding together into watchdog groups that have the resources to match the resources of industry sector lobby groups. Democracy Watch and its coalitions propose a very simple system that has worked effectively in the U.S. to help citizens band together into these watchdog groups.
Unfortunately, secret rulings will still be possible unless Bill C-2 is strengthened. Secret rulings by the ethics watchdog for the Prime Minister and other senior officials will still be possible, and even that watchdog, the Ethics Commissioner has noted, has a very serious problem with the current mandate.
As well, the identities of politicians, political staff, cabinet appointees, and public servants who are guilty of wrongdoing will often be kept secret.
The Information Commissioner and other watchdogs will lack independence and the key powers that are needed to ensure the rules are followed.
Another key area in an enforcement system, as mentioned, is effective penalties. The penalties will still be too low in the areas of unethical, secretive, and wasteful activities. For example, violating the cabinet ethics code will result in a maximum penalty of $500, which is a joke.
Finally, whistle-blowers who are not public servants will not be effectively protected from retaliation, and no whistle-blowers will receive compensation adequate to seeking other jobs, even if the whistle-blowing process leaves them completely alienated from all their co-workers.
I hope the committee will take this historic opportunity to take the time to work through this bill and to fully consider amendments, which means possibly running into the fall. There's no rush. It's important to get it right. It's an historic opportunity to close all the huge loopholes in the government's accountability system.
I hope the committee will take seriously the 140 amendments that Democracy Watch is proposing today.
Thank you very much. I welcome your questions.