THERE MAY be some cold comfort in the fact that Canada, despite its famed reputation for order and fair play, finds itself embroiled in a corruption scandal. Indeed, the federal Liberal Party could teach anyone seeking to learn how to run a kickback-and-money-laundering scheme a thing or two.
Nevertheless, before we succumb to the temptation to shrug and say "it's everywhere" whenever a scandal like this erupts at home, it is worth remembering that this scandal very nearly brought down the Canadian Government. It survived a vote of confidence last week by the narrowest of margins.
In the June 2004 elections, the Liberals won 75 per cent of Ontario's seats, in fact, Ontario has been a Liberal stronghold for the past 12 years and accounts for 106 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons. In the vote of confidence, with the support of its minority ally, the National Democratic Party, the Liberals had the same 152 votes as its opposition, comprising the Conservatives, allied with the Parti Quebecois. It took a casting vote by the speaker to break the tie.
Now, the administration walks on a very short leash, and has already committed to holding fresh elections as soon as the commission of enquiry into the scandal reports its findings.
In part, the fact that the government was nearly voted down reflects the structure of the Canadian parliament, in which minority governments are not rare and Members of Parliament can enjoy real disciplinary power over the government.
Yet, there is more to it than that. Arguably, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin showed strong leadership when the scandal broke. At the time, many in his party called
for him to sweep it under the carpet. Instead, he commissioned the enquiry, the same commission which has now come back to haunt him.
Yet, while Mr. Martin's government may still fall, in time, he may gain the credit for doing his bit to try and restore some integrity to the Canadian political system. That is a lesson we must all study closely as we seek to fight corruption at every level.
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