Prime Minister Stephen Harper's reluctance to co-operate with the federal Ethics Commissioner's probe of a former Liberal cabinet minister's decision to switch sides sets a “dangerous precedent” and flies in the face of both rules governing MPs and the Tories' own planned accountability legislation, Liberal MP Wayne Easter charged Thursday.
Mr. Easter – one of three MPs to launch the original ethics complaint over Vancouver-area MP David Emerson's decision to cross the floor – also said during a press conference in Ottawa that members of the House of Commons are required to co-operate with such a probe under federal legislation.
As well, Mr. Easter said the Prime Minister's reluctance puts him at odds with the Conservatives' own proposed accountability legislation, aimed at creating a more transparent federal government.
“Mr. Harper clearly believes everyone is accountable to the Ethics Commissioner but himself, that he is above the rules that apply to all members of Parliament,” Mr. Easter told reporters during a press conference.
“The Ethics Commissioner reports to Parliament, and not the prime minister, precisely because the prime minister is not above scrutiny.”
Last week, Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro announced that he would launch a preliminary inquiry into Mr. Emerson's move from the Liberals to the Conservatives just two weeks after the Jan. 23 federal election.
Mr. Emerson, a former Liberal cabinet minister who vowed after winning his Vancouver-area seat to become Mr. Harper's worst enemy, raised eyebrows when the showed up at the swearing-in of Mr. Harper's cabinet and accepted a post with the Tories.
The move prompted widespread anger in Mr. Emerson's riding, where the Tories finished third to the Liberals and the NDP. Mr. Emerson has said he will run as a Conservative in the next federal election.
Mr. Harper's office responded to word of Mr. Shapiro's probe by suggesting that the Prime Minister would be loath to co-operate, labelling Mr. Shapiro a Liberal appointee and pointing out that he did not launch similar investigations into Belinda Stronach and Scott Brison when they moved from the Tories to the Liberals.
Mr. Harper has also said that the decision on cabinet appointments lies with the Prime Minister's Office and that he wouldn't concede the power to an unelected official.
Earlier this week, Mr. Harper also confirmed that he spoke with former NDP leader Ed Broadbent more than a month ago about taking over the ethics post. Mr. Broadbent, however, refused for personal reasons.
He also said any efforts to replace Mr. Shapiro would set a “dangerous precedent” by trying to remove an officer of Parliament.
“Keep in mind, this is the first Ethics Commissioner who is in fact independent of the Prime Minister's Office and is a full officer of the House of Commons,” Mr. Easter said.
“If Prime Minister Harper is allowed to get away with setting this precedent, what's to say the next prime minister who comes and says ‘I don't really like the Auditor-General or I don't like some other officer of the House.”
Mr. Shapiro has come under fire in the past from MPs of all parties for his decisions. Last fall, a Commons committee censured him for making public comments about a continuing inquiry.
