Charlie Angus moved, — That the Committee present the following report to the House :
Justice John Gomery appeared before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on March 13, 2008,
testifying that the Federal Accountability Act took steps in the right direction on accountability and transparency, but that it was predominantly developed before his report was finished.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates expresses the sincere thanks of this Committee and all Canadians to Justice Gomery for his work done on behalf of ordinary Canadians from coast to coast to coast to improve the accountability and transparency of the federal government.
The committee strongly recommends that the government:
- immediately embark on a formal study of Justice John Gomery’s 19 recommendations arising from the Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities, and report back to the House of Commons within 6 months on how it intends to address the recommendations, including those recommendations that it rejects; and,
-immediately take steps to enact section 227 of the Federal Accountability Act that calls for the establishment of a Public Appointments Commission; and,
- immediately move to implement Justice Gomery’s Recommendation 15 by bringing into force the provisions of the Lobbyists Registration Act that are not yet in force.