OTTAWA, - Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government today introduced the proposed Federal Accountability Act to restore Canadians' trust in government.

"With the Federal Accountability Act, we are creating a new culture of accountability that will change forever the way business is done in Ottawa," Prime Minister Harper said.

Treasury Board President John Baird introduced the Act in Parliament. An Action Plan was also released, which includes additional measures the Harper government will undertake in order to deliver on all its campaign commitments to clean up government.

"People who work hard, pay their taxes, and play by the rules want accountability from their government," said Minister Baird. "Today is about putting the legacy of political scandal behind us and restoring Canadians' trust in government."

The Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan would:

reduce the opportunity to exert influence with money by banning corporate, union, and large personal political donations;

give Canadians confidence that lobbying is done ethically with a five-year lobbying ban on former ministers, their aides, and senior public servants;
ensure people who see problems in government know they can speak up by providing real protection for whistleblowers;
and
ensure Canadians know how their money is spent by enhancing the power for the Auditor General to follow the money.

"These measures will strengthen and streamline government so it can function more efficiently," Prime Minister Harper said. "We are following through on our commitment to deliver good, clean government to Canadians."

Mr. Baird added that the Government will work with Parliament to move this important legislation forward. The Government will also immediately begin to implement the non-legislative elements of the Action Plan.

The Action Plan, draft legislation, fact sheets, and other materials are available at www.accountability.gc.ca

Michael McCafferty comments:
The Accountability Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation introduced in Parliament in modern Canadian history. I admire Prime Minister Harper for his leadership in bringing forth the Accountability Action plan.