Madam Speaker, I note that the member of the Bloc Quebecois does not take credit for raising this issue. It is the auditor general.
I would like to express my appreciation for his acknowledging that. The auditor general does have an extremely important role in holding the government accountable.
This issue raises for me the lack of accountability of this government and its intention to be even less accountable as we proceed through its mandate.
I think of the changes in legislation that are coming through where the government is seeking to have more discretion in its power as it governs. It is interesting how power seeks power.
There are little changes like changing in the legislation a "shall" to a "may", which leaves more discretion; a comment such as "in the opinion of the minister" in the legislation, which leaves no latitude for appeal.
There are a couple of issues that I would like to raise about government accountability in my own constituency. There is the appointment of returning officers. What is the accountability of the government in this?
In my constituency there have been two returning officers appointed by this government. As far as I can tell neither of them has had any public input.
As I read the qualifications, I read that the work is by nature impartial, non-partisan: "The returning officer must conduct all business accordingly. Returning officers must abide by the government's conflict of interest code and Elections Canada code of professional conduct and must abstain from all activities of a politically partisan nature".
Yet it is well known in my community that both people who were appointed-one has since resigned and the other remains appointed-are indeed part of the Liberal organization. Where is the accountability there?
I would also like to raise the issue of the Nisga'a treaty and the agreement in principle where a large portion of the province of British Columbia has been set aside without consultation of the people of British Columbia. Included in this agreement are educational matters, justice matters, infrastructure matters, commercial fishing matters. Where did the government include people in this? Where is the government's accountability to the people who elected it? This is the issue.
As we talk about family trusts, people are extremely nervous because of the way the Liberal government has gone about governing the nation, not in a fair manner at all.