Watchdogs 'under attack' by Cons

[HeresyLives]

A trio of recently fired watchdogs visited a prorogued Parliament today to complain that the Conservatives are "at war" with the government's independent tribunals.

The forum, organized as a prorogation protest measure by the Liberals, aired angry remarks from Canada's former police, military and nuclear watchdogs. Their common complaint? The independence of important "quasi-judicial" bodies is being undercut by political interference.

"This isn't somewhere you put a in that seat to keep it warm," said Paul Kennedy, who lost his job as chair of the RCMP Public Complaints Commission last month. He had served four years, but the Conservative government did not renew his term.

"I'm a strong proponent of independent oversight of the government and its agencies," said Mr. Kennedy, a combative complaints chair who has a 35-year background in federal security agencies.

Politicians, he said, stifle dissent from "bothersome" watchdog agencies by starving them of funding or by appointing ineffective chairs. (An estate lawyer with political connections was named to replace Mr. Kennedy last week.)

Administrative tribunals are "under attack by the federal government," said Linda Keen, former chief executive at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. She recounted how she was "fired" by the Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources last year.
"I said at the time this is going to send a chill through federal tribunals," she said in a videotaped message. "... Are we in an era where tribunals must be more interested in meeting the needs of the government than in doing their jobs?"


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/watchdogs-describe-coming-under-attack-by-conservative-government/article1444492/