Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to tighten financial transparency rules for elected officials, specifically taking aim at Liberal Leader Mark Carney. He plans to ban “shadow lobbying” and require anyone advising government officials to declare themselves as lobbyists if there is a financial interest involved. This proposal would have forced Carney to register as a lobbyist when advising former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Additionally, Poilievre intends to require cabinet ministers to divest fully from tax havens and disclose their assets, further targeting Carney, who has faced scrutiny for not disclosing his financial assets and having ties to tax havens like the Cayman Islands.
Poilievre has dubbed his proposed measures as the “Accountability Act 2.0,” drawing inspiration from a law passed by the previous Stephen Harper government that established modern parliamentary ethics rules and offices for lobbying and ethics commissioners. Carney’s campaign did not immediately respond to these developments, with Carney asserting that he has put his assets in a blind trust and was in discussions with the ethics commissioner about a conflict of interest screen. However, his ethics disclosure filing may not be released until after the election, leaving questions about transparency and accountability.
In response to Carney’s lack of public appearances and fewer details about his investments, Poilievre accused the Liberal leader of hiding from the public. When confronted about Carney’s decision to step back from the campaign, Poilievre emphasized that it is ultimately up to Canadians to decide the significance of this choice. Carney has faced criticism for avoiding questions from reporters and will participate in a crucial interview on the popular Quebec talk show “Tout le monde en parle” alongside Poilievre and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet. Carney’s ability to speak French has been scrutinized, particularly after his struggles during the French-language debate in the Liberal leadership race.
Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh focused on his campaign in Timmins, Ontario, discussing his plan for northern Ontario. The Liberals have put forward former Timmins mayor Steve Black as their candidate in the riding, competing against the NDP’s Nicole Fortier Levesque, former mayor of Moonbeam, Ontario. Singh highlighted the absence of prominent northern Ontario NDP incumbents like Charlie Angus and Carol Hughes in this election, emphasizing the strong NDP voices that northerners have sent to Parliament in the past. He also criticized other party leaders for failing to address Indigenous issues substantially in the campaign, challenging them to prioritize these crucial issues.
Overall, there is a clear focus on financial transparency and accountability in the Canadian political landscape, with Pierre Poilievre targeting Mark Carney over his financial dealings and lack of disclosure. The upcoming French language debate will be a significant moment for Carney as he faces skilled debaters like Poilievre and Yves-François Blanchet. Additionally, Jagmeet Singh is campaigning on issues relevant to northern Ontario, highlighting the absence of key NDP incumbents in the region. The discussion of Indigenous issues also remains a key point of contention in the election campaign, with Singh challenging other party leaders to prioritize these crucial issues.
