Code of Ethics
We are challenging candidates for elected office to commit to a code of ethics specially designed for politicians.
This code will require politicians to campaign on policy issues only, not with negative attacks on their opponents. In their relationship with citizens, politicians will have to be honest and forthright at all times, and respect Canadians by making only promises they can keep, not exaggerating their abilities, and not trying to obfuscate on issues. Should an elected official run afoul of the law, or find himself in a conflict of interest and fail to end it, regardless of the personal consequences, the code will demand their immediate resignation from office.
We will be asking candidates for elected office at the national, provincial, and municipal levels to literally sign on to this Code of Ethics. While we anticipate many politicians will resist, as we expect some will take this as questioning their integrity, we are simply seeking an assurance for Canadians that elected officials recognize their government is for the people, and not themselves.
CODE OF ETHICS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
"Government For the People"
Whereas all citizens are striving towards the best governance of Canada, those who seek elected office are asking eligible voters to trust them at the highest level. As a result, we at the Mad River Institute for Political Studies are asking all those who are candidates for elected official to voluntarily adhere to the below Code of Ethics:
No elected official will intentionally violate any laws, or any provisions of the constitution of Canada, nor will they promote others to do so. Upon conviction of any provincial or federal offence, the elected official shall resign from office, even before pending appeals.
No elected official will intentionally do harm to, or breech the confidentiality and anonymity, of any Canadian citizen or resident. Given the power of a politician to undermine reputations in parliament, legislature, or council, or interfere in an individual’s relationship with the government, elected officials must treat everyone with civility, honesty, equality, and respect at all times.
No elected official will intentionally delay or disrupt the proceedings of parliament, legislature, or council, outside the rules.
No elected official will intentionally mislead or offend Canadians. All statements made by an elected official must, at all times, be truthful. No elected official will falsely represent issues to Canadians. This includes making promises that the elected official knows cannot be kept, or making promises that seem unlikely to be kept.
No elected official will misrepresent their own abilities, education, training, standards of performance, certifications, or experiences to others. No elected official will claim to have political beliefs or affiliations they do not, nor will they disavow political beliefs or affiliations they hold.
No elected official will participate when in a conflict of interest. If a politician is found to be in an unintentional conflict, he or she must immediately act to end it or be considered to be knowingly in a conflict. A conflict must be ended immediately, even if it threatens the position or reputation of the elected official.
No elected official will, at any time, give anything less than their best effort to Canadians, and commit to see that government is run in the most efficient and effective way.
No candidate for elected office will campaign in a negative style that attacks opponents in a personal way, or propagates fear of an opponent. Campaigning should be limited to comparisons of partisan policy differences only.
Elected officials will commit to legally protect any person who publicly reports illegal and/or unethical actions by other officials, regardless of any ‘whistleblower’ legislation that may, or may not, be in effect.
I, ...................................................................................., commit to this Code of Ethics. Should I fail to live up to any of the above conditions, I pledge to immediately resign from office.
Date: Signature: