Niagra Falls, Ontario - Thursday, October 3, 2002 - by: Joe Hueglin
	The saying "Do as I say not as I do" applies to proposals for
	"an independent ethics counsellor for MPs, but
	the prime minister and cabinet ministers would
	still report to the prime minister's hand-picked
	ethics counsellor, Howard Wilson, or his
	replacement." (1)
	Members of Parliament, who have little possibility of acting in an untoward manner,
	and their spouses held accountable ... but any Cabinet Minister using Alphonso
	Gagliano as a role model subject to nothing more than he was.
	Truly as a Liberal backbencher is quoted as saying
	" a set of rules for one group of people and a
	different set for others"(2),
	and the easy set for those in the position of being ethically challenged.
	Joe Hueglin
Reference:
	Liberal backbenchers don't like ethics proposals, Wed. October 2, 2002, CBC news
	OTTAWA - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's plan to put in place a new ethics package for members of Parliament is running into resistance on his own backbenches. Liberals got a look at the package on Tuesday, and some of them weren't impressed by House leader Don Boudria's presentation. One bone of contention is that the package calls for disclosure of holdings from not only MPs and senators, but their spouses, too. "My spouse is a separate person from me," said Liberal MP John Harvard. "She has her own bank account, has her own investments. I don't think it's anyone's business where her money is." The ethics package is a response to a series of controversies that hit the government, including questions about Chrétien's own dealings surrounding the Auberge Grand-Mere in his riding. Liberal Senator Anne Cools says cabinet ministers should be the target for new stringent ethics rules. "If the prime minister has had some problems with a few cabinet ministers, perhaps that is where the prime minister should begin to deal with the ethics of his cabinet ministers," she said. "Nobody is accusing members of Parliament of being engaged in unethical dealings," said Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper. "The accusations are against the prime minister and members of the cabinet." The proposal calls for an independent ethics counsellor for MPs, but the prime minister and cabinet ministers would still report to the prime minister's hand-picked ethics counsellor, Howard Wilson, or his replacement. "That duality gives people the impression there is a set of rules for one group of people and a different set for others," said Liberal MP Alan Tonks. If the package were to go to a vote as it is, enough Liberals don't like it that it might not pass. Written by CBC News Online staff
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