Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the code of conduct that was announced in this House yesterday by the Honourable Joe Handley.
I would like to say that I believe that a code of conduct for our employees is a very good idea. I think that to codify the process for our employees so they understand what constitutes a conflict of interest and how they can avoid such a problem is a good idea. However, I would have to ask the question, did we get this one right?
Mr. Speaker, I believe the whole process started as a result of recommendations made by the Conflict of Interest Review Panel in April, 1999. The panel noted at that time that senior staff:
"Often have access to much of the same confidential information as Members of the Executive Council, and often have more information than other Members of the Legislative Assembly. Consequently, senior officials are often placed in situations akin to those that represent prohibited conduct for Ministers under the Act."
Mr. Speaker, the panel went on to say that there are some restrictions on senior staff. I quote again: "Many of these restrictions are policies which do not have the same legal force as legislation."
Obviously, Mr. Speaker, from that we would expect to see legislation, but I am afraid that all we get regarding deputy ministers in this code of conduct is paragraph 48, which really leaves everything just as it is right now. Mr. Speaker, in order to fully protect our most senior staff and to be seen to be protecting the public interest, we need legislation to be changed.
Mr. Speaker, the impetus for this code came from recommendations that we clarify the situation for our most senior staff. However, the code that we now have in front of us leaves things pretty much the same for deputies and creates a very detailed system for all employees. Again, it is a good idea to codify the situation, to wrap up all the rules in one place, but again, did we get it right? I do not know for sure, but I think maybe not.
I am concerned that perhaps our code does not make the grade. The administration of the code is too closely tied to the deputy ministers and to Cabinet. The contract for the ethics counsellor would be administered by the secretary to Cabinet.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.