Duff Conacher

Federal Commissioner of Lobbying has, in secret rulings, let off 895 lobbyists who have violated the lobbying law & lobbyist code of conduct. Key changes needed to close huge loopholes in the law & code & to require effective, transparent enforcement & mandatory penalties.

The @rcmpgrcpolice must be joking with this post. It is one of the most excessively secretive federal government institutions, and regularly covers up wrongdoing. For example, see details re: lobbyist violations it is covering up at: bit.ly/4bfSFWC

As DWatch Co-founder Duff Conacher wrote in 1991 article “Power to the People: Initiative, Referendum & Recall & the Possibility of Popular Sovereignty in Canada”, court approval of constitutionality of referendum ? like Alberta separation ? should be required before it proceeds.

NEW from me... Lobbyist changes still leave ‘some of the biggest loopholes’: watchdog ‘It's like boasting that you are just as rotten as all the other rotten apples’: Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher tj.news/new-brunswick/…

DWatch says in article Liberal govt’s bill doesn’t close “huge loopholes that allow for secret lobbying if the lobbyist is not paid, if a politician or government official invites the lobbyist to lobby them, if the lobbying is about the enforcement of a law” etc. #nbpoli

Allegations re: this Ontario Liberal nomination contest in Scarborough Southwest riding situation raise serious ?s (see thread) & are latest example of why election agencies should run nomination & party leadership contests. Call for that & key democratic election changes at: 1/3

Please retweet — Come hear DWatch Co-founder Duff Conacher in Ottawa next Wed. May 20 speaking on democratic reform prospects in Canada, which are key to winning all progressive reforms. Details at: carletonpirg.org/events/g3xwjvt… #ottpoli

17 year-old Charlie Conacher was a star on the diamond as well as the rink

More excessive secrecy from PC Party Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Support the court case challenging Ford’s changes to the FOI law that cover-his cellphone records and other key Cabinet minister records like the gravy plane sale receipts at: democracywatch.ca/funds/stop-for…

Former PM Justin Trudeau’s Senate appointment process was as partisan as ever. Will Prime Minister Mark Carney make the process actually independent or return to the patronage cronyism of the past? Best option is to shut down the Senate. Details at: bit.ly/42o7d2z

More excessive secrecy from PC Party Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Support the court case challenging Ford’s changes to the FOI law that cover-his cellphone records and other key Cabinet minister records like the gravy plane sale receipts at: democracywatch.ca/funds/stop-for…

The Governor General is a key guardian of democracy & Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney should not have handpicked the new GG through a secretive, partisan process. The process should have long ago been democratized & Canadianized. Details at: bit.ly/4usBEk0 #cdnpoli

Yet another reason to Shut Down the Senate (better and more fair regional representation can be built into the House of Commons, and MPs can be freed to be more independent like Senators can be). Details at: democracywatch.ca/campaigns/shut… #cdnpoli

DWatch will file constitutional challenge of PC Party Premier Doug Ford’s excessive secrecy changes to Ontario’s freedom of information (FOI) law that retroactively cover up Fords cellphone records & Cabinet communications with lobbyists. Details: bit.ly/4cIgJnh #onpoli

As Globe article says, DWatch tried but failed to win an injunction “that could have blocked the sections of the bill that contain the FOI changes” that will keep Doug Ford’s cellphone records secret, and “the group may still file a constitutional challenge” to stop the changes.

@MadelnCanada Butter tarts, and than 400 inventions, firsts and/or foremosts in the world, as documented in Canada Firsts, and this book:

Egypt is known for the Nile Japan is known for the Samurai Italy is known for Pasta What is Canada known for?🇨🇦

DWatch in court at 9:30 am ET this morning in Toronto intervening in first step of appeal of ruling in case challenging Justin Trudeau’s prorogation of Parliament last year, aimed at winning restrictions on PM’s power to prorogue. Details at: bit.ly/3OCADXi #cdnpoli

There is only a handful of survivors from the 1967 #Leafs team that won the #StanleyCup. Here are two - Mike Walton and Brian Conacher - enjoying the moment on May 2 of that year at the Gardens. #LeafsForever

If PC Party Ontario Premier Doug Ford tries to shove his budget Bill 97 through without committee hearings that give the public a chance to comment on the Bill & for amendments, @OntarioNDP & @OntLiberal should filibuster in the legislature to highlight Ford’s abuse of power.

DWatch’s 2nd submission to House Ethics Committee reveals Prime Minister Mark Carney very likely violated the federal ethics law & how a Liberal MP participated in the Committee’s review of the law despite having a clear conflict of interest. Details at: bit.ly/3Ou4zoD.