OTTAWA, ON: Given the current scandals in the Senate relating to ethics and accountability, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is urging MPs on the Commons Ethics Committee to reject pressure from the Harper government to gut a private member’s bill that would mandate salary disclosure for federal employees and political appointees.
“Canada needs a Sunshine List so taxpayers can judge what kind of value they’re getting for their tax dollars,” said CTF Federal Director Gregory Thomas.
MP Brent Rathgeber’s Bill C-461 would mandate salary disclosure for federal employees earning over $188,000. Currently, the federal government provides only a range of salaries for its employees and employees of crown corporations. Ontario’s Sunshine Law mandates disclosure for all government employees earning over $100,000 annually, while other Canadian jurisdictions publish the details of all government salaries.
The bill passed second reading in the House of Commons in March, but not without a warning from the Harper government that amendments were coming at committee stage, amendments that might conceal salary information for all but a few federal staffers – those earning over $320,000 a year.
“Canadians expect openness from the Harper government, not cover-ups and stonewalling,” continued Thomas.
Senior federal executives in Ottawa can currently earn up to $513,400 in salary (and an additional $169,422 in annual bonuses) Canadian taxpayers are not entitled to know the exact amount of the salary nor the size of the bonus.
“Taxpayers are not even entitled even to read an executive’s job description,” said Thomas. “This is another example where the government is not walking its own talk when it comes to accountability.”
Thomas called on MPs on the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics to reject pressure from the government to weaken Bill C-461.
The CTF wants the government to disclose detailed salary information for those earning $100,000 or more, including vacation time, sick day entitlements, extended benefit entitlements, pension entitlements and bonuses.
“In light of recent scandals, we need more information and accountability from this government, not less,” concluded Thomas.
Gregory Thomas, Federal Director
