Complaints to Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro still outstanding - democracy watchdog follows up on complaints made in March against Stephen Harper, David Emerson, Paul Martin and Belinda Stronach.

Democracy Watch’s position is that while Belinda Stronach may have violated the MPs Code, the actions of Paul Martin, David Emerson and Stephen Harper were violations of the Public Office Holders Code, given that all three were members of Cabinet when the party-switching actions occurred.

Democracy Watch’s complaints call for an investigation of whether the party-switchers, and the Prime Ministers who rewarded the party switching, violated the requirements in the both codes to act “with honesty” and “uphold the highest ethical standards” in ways that increase “public trust and confidence” in their integrity and the integrity of the federal government. More >

Clearly public trust and confidence in our government and political leaders has been eroded. What's interesting about Democracy Watch's complaint is both the different angle taken plus the request that Shapiro essentially recuse himself and delegate his decision making authority to a provincial ethics commissioner.

We suggest Manitoba take on the task, as it is a jurisdiction that aims to become the first in Canada to pass a floor-crossing prohibition law.