Notice of Motion

Scott Andrews
15 June 2012

I give notice of my intention to move the following motion:

THAT, pursuant to its mandate under Standing Order 108(3)(h)(vi) the Standing
Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics undertake a study for the
purpose of proposing initiatives which relate to ethical standards relating to public
office holders; and
THAT the study focus particularly on the recent revelations concerning the ethical
behaviour of one of the most senior public office holders in the Canadian
government; namely the allegations that Dean Del Mastro, M.P., Parliamentary
Secretary to the Prime Minister was involved in false and misleading filings with
Elections Canada in relation to his candidacy in the 2008 election; and allegations
that he or someone acting on his behalf may have been involved in the fabrication of
false documents for the purpose of making false and misleading filings with
Elections Canada; with a view to considering whether such behaviour, regardless of
the truth of the allegations against Dean Del Mastro, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary
to the Prime Minister, ought to come within the scope of the regime for regulating
ethical standards relating to public office holders; and
THAT for the purpose of better understanding these allegations and their
implications for modernizing the ethical standards relating to public office holders,
the Committee invite Dean Del Mastro, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime
Minister , Richard McCarthy, who acted as his official agent in the 2008 election, and
representatives of Holinshed Research Group to appear; and
THAT, for the purpose of better understanding these allegations and their
implications for modernizing the ethical standards relating to public office holders,
and pursuant to the Standing Order 108(1)(a), all Departments of the Government
be ordered to provide all forms of communications received, including
correspondence, in connection with the allegations against Dean Del Mastro, M.P.,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, including emails to and from the
Piime Ninistei Ninisteis Pailiamentaiy Secietaiies anu exempt staff in Ninisteis
offices; and
THAT for the purpose of better understanding these allegations and their
implications for modernizing the ethical standards relating to public office
holders,and pursuant to the Standing Order 108(1)(a), Holinshed Research Group
be ordered to provide a copy of all contractual agreements, invoices,
correspondence and any related documents between Holinshed Research Group
and Dean Del Mastro, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister , together
with all contractual agreements, invoices, correspondence and any related
documents between Holinshed Research Group and Richard McCarthy, who acted as
official agent for Dean Del Mastro, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime
Minister in the 2008 election; and
THAT for the purpose of better understanding these allegations and their
implications for modernizing the ethical standards relating to public office holders,
and pursuant to the Standing Order 108(1)(a), Richard McCarthy, who acted as
official agent for Dean Del Mastro, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime
Minister in the 2008 election, be ordered to provide a copy of all invoices, bank
statements, records and documents related to the performance of his duties as
official agent for Dean Del Mastro, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime
Minister in the 2008 election; and
THAT all documents be provided to the Committee within 20 business days; and
THAT for the purpose of better understanding implications of these allegations for
modernizing the ethical standards relating to public office holders, the Committee
invite representatives of the Privy Council Office to appear and testify as to whether
the conduct of Dean Del Mastro, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
is entiiely consistent with the iequiiements of Chaptei Iv of the Piime Ninisteis
guidelines for Parliamentary Secretaries, adopted in 2011, which include in part the
following:
Pailiamentaiy Secietaiies must act with honesty anu must upholu the
highest ethical standards so that public confidence and trust in the integrity
and impartiality of government are maintained and enhanced. As public
office holders, ... Parliamentary Secretaries are subject to the Part I
requirements of the Ethical and Political Activity Guidelines for Public Office
Holders set out in Annex A. ... Moreover, they have an obligation to perform
their official duties and arrange their private affairs in a manner that will
bear the closest public scrutiny. This obligation is not fully discharged merely
by acting within the law anu

THAT the Committee report to the House no later than October 1, 2012.