This is my final question. I'm just looking at one of the most entertaining booklets I have, which is the Conservative election platform, where they state that they will make qualified government appointments. They state:
The Liberals have repeatedly appointed insiders, in some cases completely unqualified, to important public offices. Liberal candidates and MPs have received appointments as heads of Crown corporations, board members, and ambassadors.
A Conservative government will:
• Ensure that all Officers of Parliament are appointed through consultation with all parties in the House of Commons and confirmed through a secret ballot of all Members of Parliament, not just named by the Prime Minister. This appointment process will cover:
- The Ethics Commissioner
- The Auditor General
- The Chief Electoral Officer
- The Information Commissioner
- The Privacy Commissioner
- The Registrar of Lobbyists
• Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for appointments to government boards, commissions, and agencies, to ensure that competitions for posts are widely publicized and fairly conducted.
• Prevent ministerial aides and other political appointees receiving favoured treatment when applying for public service positions.
My question is simple. We've heard nothing of the public appointments commission since it was deep-sixed. Is the Privy Council working with the government in any capacity to restore and live up to the commitment they made in the election?