OTTAWA - The Conservative government says it's working to ensure its showpiece ethics legislation takes full legal effect as soon as possible -- but it can't say exactly when that will be or guarantee the job will be done before the next election.
Treasury Board President Vic Toews did announce Wednesday that some sections of the new Accountability Act, setting stiffer jail terms and administrative penalties for fraud against the government, will come into force March 1.
But he set no timetable for other key segments dealing with reforms to the Access to Information Act, protection for public-service whistleblowers and rules governing lobbying and conflict of interest.
"We're moving as quickly as possible,'' Toews said after a speech to an international ethics conference in nearby Gatineau, Que. "I've sat down with the officials and we are working out a schedule.''
There has been speculation the government wants to delay issuing the cabinet orders needed to implement some elements of the legislation until after the next election.
Toews dismissed any such political motive, saying some parts of the law simply require consultation _ for example, talks with union representatives about whistleblower protection.
"My mandate is not to stall the bill; my mandate is to implement the bill,'' he insisted. "And that's exactly what I'm going to do.''
He hedged, however, on whether he can finish his work before MPs hit the campaign trail again, suggesting the Conservatives aren't masters of their own fate in a minority Parliament.
"The timing of the election doesn't lie in my hands,'' he said. "It lies within the opposition's hands.''
All four parties in the Commons have been jockeying for position on the subject, saying they don't want to force a spring election that the public doesn't want, but adding that they're ready in case someone else pulls the plug.
In his speech to the conference, Toews announced the March implementation date for the new penalties under the Financial Administration Act and the Criminal Code for frauds committed by public servants and contractors for the federal government.
They will be subject to up to five years in prison for fraud under $5,000 and up to 14 years for fraud over that amount. In addition, they will automatically be dismissed from their jobs and barred from future contracting with the government or reaping financial benefits from contracts awarded to others.
The Accountability Act, drafted by the Tories in response to the sponsorship scandal that erupted under the previous Liberal government, passed the Commons and Senate and received royal assent in December, but requires separate cabinet orders for many provisions to come into force.
The massive legislation amended a dozen federal statutes and touched on everything from party financing to government appointments, contracting, lobbying, whistleblowing, conflict of interest and public service management practices.
