Editor's note: During the campaign leading up to the May 2 federal election, the editors of the Squamish Chief, Powell River Peak, Whistler Question and Sunshine Coast Reporter are posing a series of questions to candidates in the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding. Terry Platt (New Democratic) and Doug Hartt (Canadian Action Party) did not respond to this week's question in time for publication. This week's question:
Are integrity and ethics an issue in this campaign? Why or why not?
Never before in our history has a government ever been found in contempt of Parliament. Mr. Harper has shown a stunning and profound disrespect for our democratic institutions, and by extension, the Canadian people. His has been a government characterized by flip-flops, subterfuge, secrecy and character assassination. Mr. Harper shut down Parliament twice, engaged in ceaseless personal attacks on anyone that disagreed with him, and has been a divisive and polarizing force in our national life. Changing that has been the driving force for my decision to stand for public office for the first time. We are entitled to an honest, responsible and competent national government. Trust is the very least we must demand.
Dan Veniez, Liberal Party
Ethics and integrity are critical - our leaders' character influences our nation every day. Stephen Harper famously said "principles above party" at our National Convention in 2005.
When the Conservative Party brought in the Accountability Law in 2006 - its first act, - we changed Canadian politics forever. Gone are the days:
when individuals can buy influence by contributing large amounts of money - maximum is $1,100 per person per year;
when corporations or unions can sway how Members of Parliament vote; they can't contribute a cent;
when Cabinet ministers and their staff leave Parliament Hill to become lobbyists, there are strict new rules.- John Weston, Conservative Party
Unfortunately, ethics and integrity are campaign issues because of Canada's recent political history. It would be normally a given that a rigid ethical stance would be an unspoken reality; the same for integrity. People aren't perfect but we must strive to be; it is our duty to our better human nature.
Integrity also means admitting and accepting who we are and what we do sometimes. We have to correct our mistakes; if we do it with integrity, we don't risk shame while continuing to strive for authenticity, sincerity, truth and compassion. Proportional representation and an elected Senate would solve these problems.
Brennan Wauters, Green Party
Not only leaders but all citizens must talk about why values, basic principles and morals are key to a happy and productive life. Why do we accept waste, corruption and double-talk from governments?Nobel Economics winner (2009) Elinor Ostrom, said,"A citizenry devoid of skills in policy analysis is a set of subjects who can easily become the objects of an authoritarian regime."
The smaller the size of government, the less corruption. All of us and media must participate in debates on ethics and integrity. Otherwise, the slippery slope to slavery is only too real and too scary.
Tunya Audain, Libertarian Party
Ethics and integrity do not apply to the leaders of the cartel parties in the House of Commons. All these leaders and parties support sending Tomahawk missiles against Libya. They cite "high ideals" to support their war on a sovereign country. This action violates the U.N. Charter and international law.
Our leaders (so-called) support monopoly right over public right.
We need a Worker's Opposition. Workers need to become leaders themselves - to become worker politicians.
Whose economy? Our economy! Who decides? We decide!
Take a stand against the anti-social offensive and for rights. Vote Marxist-Leninist! Visit www.mpc.ca.\
- Carol Lee Chapman, Marxist-Leninist Party
Integrity is essential. Allowing a Canadian youth to be detained and tortured in the Guantanamo concentration camp is unethical. It shows a clear lack of integrity on the part of the former government. Were Khadr an adult enemy combatant, he should be accorded the full rights of a prisoner of war under the Geneva Conventions. The fact that no other Western government allowed its citizens to remain at Guantanamo says a lot about Harper's ethics. It is a dishonour to Canada and to the Canadian Forces to allow prisoners of war to be mistreated. Omar Khadr should be brought home.
Roger Lagassé, Progressive Canadian Party
I would assume that this is a rhetorical question. All you have to do is look at their behaviour before and during the election campaign to understand that there are few ethics and less integrity when discussing our current political heads of parties.
- Allan B. Holt, Western Block Party
