Restore Public Appointments Commission and end patronage: NDP

Conservatives promised to end Liberal patronage – instead it’s cronyism as usual in Ottawa

For decades, Conservative and Liberal governments have used appointments to reward their friends – New Democrats say it’s time to finally put an end to this patronage.

The NDP has a plan to end this cronyism through restoring the Public Appointments Commission and finally delivering on the promise of merit-based accountable appointments.

“The Conservatives promised to clean up appointments but instead it’s patronage as usual with defeated Conservative candidates, fundraisers and party donors being appointed to plum posts,” said NDP Treasury Board critic, Mathieu Ravignat (Pontiac). “Under Stephen Harper, Ottawa is still broken, but the NDP has a practical plan to fix it.”

The Public Appointments Commission was first passed in the 2006 Federal Accountability Act, after being strengthened by NDP amendments. Conservatives then sabotaged the Commission’s creation by trying to appoint an insider Conservative friend as the initial commissioner.

“From agencies and boards to tribunals to the judiciary, Canadians deserve non-partisan appointments,” said NDP Justice Critic Françoise Boivin (Gatineau). “Like the NDP, people want these jobs to be filled based on merit, not political connections. They should reflect the best of Canada’s diverse society.”