TIME TO LISTEN TO CONFLICTS COMMISSIONER AND REVIEW LEGISLATION
The NDP believes it’s time to review our legislation and policies surrounding conflicts-of-interest, and bring them up to a higher standard in-line with the Yukon people’s expectations of making the political system more transparent and accountable.
“In his annual report, the Conflicts’ Commissioner made a number of interesting observations about how we could clean up the system to prevent real or perceived conflicts-of-interest,” says NDP House Leader Steve Cardiff. “We need to raise the bar in politics, and ensure our rules lead to greater transparency and ethical conduct. It is what the public wants and should rightly expect from their elected representatives.”
In his annual report, the Conflicts’ Commissioner said that the Yukon’s rules surrounding conflicts-of-interest came about in 1995, with amendments over ten years ago, and that concepts of conflicts evolve over time. The Yukon has not kept pace with this evolution, however, in that we do not have:
* a system for registering lobbyists
* protection for whistleblowers
* a definition of what a “private interest” does not include
* a requirement to regularly review our conflict-of-interest laws
“Our leader Elizabeth Hanson has been paying particular attention to the lack of effective rules governing when Ministers meet with individuals lobbying for projects or changes to legislation or regulations,” says Cardiff. “The public doesn’t know who Ministers and high-ranking government officials are meeting with, and they aren’t compelled to publicly disclose details of meetings between the government and private interests.”
“I’m not saying that there is widespread abuse; but the rules could stand to be strengthened to avoid this possibility,” he adds. “Given the high expectations the public places on the ethical standards of politicians, it is absolutely essential that we take the Conflict Commissioner’s advice to heart, review the rules, and make changes.”
The Conflicts’ Commissioner’s report can be viewed online at www.conflictofinterest.gov.yk.ca/pdf/2009_10_annual_report.pdf