As is reported in this morning's paper and as was noted widely yesterday, three former federal watchdogs - Linda Keen, Peter Tinsley and Paul Kennedy - appeared at a Liberal Party session on governance. They were there to discuss how to improve the functioning of third-party overseers in the Canadian system. Assumedly, part of what they wanted to discuss was the lessening partisan interference in the function of the duties of those who hold similar positions.
It is entirely legitimate and reasonable to have a discussion about the effectiveness of so-called impartial independent reviewers. No one should be afraid of such dialogues. But if one of your criticisms is some of these positions have been poisoned by political interference, why would chose a partisan setting to showcase your perspective? Particularly knowing that your host is going to exploit your seeming credibility to establish his own advantage with the voters? If your rallying cry is 'my independence is limited by the daily calculations of politics,' why would you make yourself a part of that equation by sitting on the lap of a political party?
I saw Peter Tinsley and Paul Kennedy interviewed on Tuesday. They do come across as capable, legitimate and well-meaning professionals. But they will diminish their stature and arguments if they allow themselves to be cast as the supplicants of any political party's agenda.
There are no shortage of non-partisan forums in Canada to mount a stain-free conversation of the role of independent agencies and government. Don't allow yourself to become a political prop when that is the outcome you're rightly trying to avoid.