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History of the Office: 1970s

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​197​0s​​​
CONFLICT OF INTEREST GUIDELINES FOR MINISTERS ARE DEVELOPED; THEY ARE FURTHER STRENGTHENED BY PRIME MINISTER JOE CLARK. THE FIRST REGISTRY OF CABINET MINISTERS' FINANCIAL HOLDINGS IS OPENED FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION. THE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT DEPUTY REGISTRAR GENERAL (ADRG) IS CREATED; DAVID TAYLOR IS APPOINTED CANADA'S FIRST FEDERAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ADMINISTRATOR.​​ 
28 January​

1970

The President of the Privy Council submits to the House of Commons a September 1969 report by Professor Jeremy Williams of the University of Alberta on the subject of conflict​ of interest legislation. He recommends five cardinal rules applicable to all Crown services and agents, members of the government and their assistants, and all Members of Parliament and Senators, prohibiting: buying or selling an interest in property to for from the Crown; deriving a profit or advantage from dealings with property of the Crown; entering into competition with the Crown; using insider information; and being influenced by financial or other inducements. He also recommends creating of two committees (Senate and House) to handle conflict of interest issues arising out of Parliament. 
17 July​

1973

Allan MacEachen, President of the Privy Council, tables in the House of Commons a Green Paper entitled Members of Parliament and Conflict of Interest. The paper concludes that the House should adopt legislation, the Independence of Parliament Act, designed to prevent breaches of conflicts of interest among Members and Senators. Legislation also addresses conflict of interest involving Cabinet ministers. (See p. 5687 of the Debates)
18 July​

1973

Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau reveals guidelines for Cabinet ministers, instead of legislation, in a statement in the House of Commons. (Ministers would be required to resign certain corporate positions, sever business associations, and dispose of certain financial interests while placing others in trust.) The PM says that the “government has concluded that guidelines are preferable to additional legislation specifically relating to ministers since certain aspects of conduct cannot readily be defined except in relation to particular circumstances. An element of discussion with the Prime Minister of the day, seems the best solution.” (See p. 5735 of the Debates.)
December​

1973​​​​

​​​Conflict of interest guidelines for public service workers are outlined in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister. These consisted essentially of principles that the government applied to ministers, political staff and Governor-in-Council appointees. (First Report of the Ethics Counsellor, 2001-2002, Appendix 8.)
May​

1974​

​​Office of Assistant Deputy Registrar General (ADRG) is created within the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, to manage the federal government’s guidelines on conflict of interest and to process the disclosure of Cabinet ministers’ assets. The first ADRG is David Taylor.​

15 November​

1974​

​​The first registry of Cabinet ministers’ financial holdings is opened for public inspection.​

27 November​

1974​

​​Mitchell Sharp, President of the Privy Council, tables in the House the same Green Paper as Allan MacEachen and places a motion on the Order Paper to have it referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections. (See p. 1706 of the Debates.)

10 June​

1975​

​​The House of Commons Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections tables its report on the Green Paper, generally endorsing its provisions but recommending some changes.​

29 June​

1976​

​​The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee tables its report recommending changes to the Green Paper proposal.​

26 June​

1978​

​​Bill C-62, the Independence of Parliament Act, is introduced in the House of Commons along with proposed Standing Orders of the House of Commons and Rules of the Senate changes. The bill dies on the Order Paper.​

16 October​

1978​

​​Bill C-6, the Independence of Parliament Act, is reintroduced with minor amendments. Proposed changes to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons and the Rules of the Senate are tabled in the House on October 30, 1978. Bill C-6 is referred to committee on March 8, 1979, but the bill dies on the Order Paper when Parliament is dissolved on March 26, 1979.​

30 October​

1978​

The Rules for the House and the Senate accompanying the Independence of Parliament Act are tabled.​

March​

1979​

Report of the Royal Commission on Financial Management and Accountability (Lambert Commission Report) is issued.

1 August​

1979​

​​New conflict of interest guidelines applicable to Cabinet ministers, their spouses and dependent children are issued by Prime Minister Joe Clark. Personal assets and those of a non-commercial nature (e.g. residences, savings bonds, and works of art) are exempt; assets considered to be non-conflicting (e.g. family business, farms, corporate securities not publicly traded) were to be publicly disclosed. Other assets had to be sold or placed in a blind trust and certain professional, corporate and commercial activities were prohibited altogether.​

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