The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, today welcomed the 2007 Global Integrity Index prepared by Global Integrity, an independent non-profit information provider tracking governance and corruption worldwide in which it ranked Canada fourth out of fifty-five countries.
"Since taking office, thanks to the Federal Accountability Act, this government has made real changes for whistleblowers, cleaned up election and political financing, toughened ethics rules and improved accountability," said Minister Toews. "We've also strengthened the role of the Ethics Commissioner; cleaned up government procurement, polling and advertising; given more powers to the Auditor General; improved audit and accountability functions within departments; and toughened the rules dealing with lobbying."
Minister Toews added: "There are areas that remain in which accountability can be improved. For instance, our government has put forward measures to deliver more accountability to the Senate by establishing term limits, and to provide for elections to choose Senators."
"We made a clear commitment to restore accountability, and our government has delivered to Canadians," said Minister Toews. "I'm proud that due to our strong and decisive actions, Canada ranks in the top tier of nations on government integrity."