Statement made on 09 December 2009 by Senator Joseph Day
Hon. Joseph A. Day:
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Today is the third anniversary of the passing of the Accountability Act by Parliament. Honourable senators will know that since that date, there has been the appointment by the Harper government of over 3,000 positions to courts, boards, quasi-judicial tribunals and Crown corporations without competition and not according to the Public Service Commission merit principle.
Honourable senators will know as well that there was, in the Accountability Act, a provision for the appointment of a Public Appointments Commission and that in one of our amendments at that time, we had asked that that be a mandatory requirement. We supported that amendment but, unfortunately, the government at the time refused to accept it stating it would limit the capacity of the government or the Governor-in-Council to organize the machinery of government, specifically with respect to the establishment of the Public Appointments Commission.
There has not to this day been an appointment of a Public Appointments Commissioner or the commission, and that is after three years, honourable senators. What concerns me is that we are being asked to vote on a secretariat for this commission each time that we receive the Main Estimates.
Can the Leader of the Government in the Senate tell us when we might expect these positions to be filled?
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