Brodie, Ian – Former Harper chief of staff takes job with top lobby firm

Could violate Conflict of Interest Act – Democracy Watch.

OTTAWA, December 12, 2008, HarperIndex.ca: Stephen Harper's former chief of staff Ian Brodie has been hired by one of the world's top corporate lobbying companies, Hill & Knowlton (H&K). Brodie, who Harper replaced in July with former Mike Harris aide Guy Giorno, has been identified as the person behind the "NAFTAgate" leak that almost cost Barack Obama the Democratic nomination.

Ironically, news of this latest blurring of the lines between the lobbying industry and the Prime Minister's Office came on the day the watchdog group Democracy Watch graded the government D on an accountability report card. Democracy Watch says the Conservatives have increased government accountability or attempted to increase accountability in 29 ways but weakened it in eight ways and failed to implement 27 promised measures.

Two years ago, the federal Conservatives passed the Federal Accountability Act, which was promoted as offering remedies to prevent scandals such as those that rocked the former Liberal government.

"The federal government's accountability enforcement system is the scandal because, among many other highly questionable activities, it is still effectively legal for a person like Karlheinz Schreiber to fund-raise for and make secret donations to nomination races and party leadership candidates, to lobby in secret, to make secret, fixed deals with Cabinet ministers, their staff, handpicked Cabinet patronage appointees and government employees, and for everyone involved to be dishonest about their secret, unethical relationships," said Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch.

"Incredibly, it is much more likely Canadians will be caught and punished for parking illegally than a politician will be caught and punished for taking money from a lobbyist."

Conacher told HarperIndex.ca that Brodie "... could possibly be cashing in on his public service by selling his inside government knowledge to corporations and other wealthy interests."

H&K claims Brodie will not contravene the Lobbying Act by directly lobbying – communicating with people in the federal government on behalf of clients – which the law does not permit him to do for five years after leaving the government. He will, however, "give strategic advice to his colleagues at H&K who will then lobby using his advice," according to Conacher.

Democracy Watch's position is that, in his job with H&K, Brodie will have to be very careful not to violate subsection 34(2) of the Conflict of Interest Act, which forbids former public office holders from giving advice to clients, associates or employers based on what they learned in their government work. "The federal Ethics Commissioner must set out a clear interpretation of the measures in the Act that answers the question 'How can someone in Brodie's position possibly give advice without using information that is not public that he obtained when he worked in the PMO?'" said Conacher.

Democracy Watch also wonders whether there was an investigation by the federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, because Brodie, as a former public office holder, is not permitted to accept an offer of employment with an entity with which he had direct and significant official dealings "during the period of one year immediately before his or her last day in office." Conacher says whether Brodie had "direct and significant official dealings" with H&K during his last year in office needs to be investigated by the Ethics Commissioner, if she has not already done so

A list of H&K clients is available by searching the Registry of Lobbyists. (Click on the preceding Registry of Lobbyists link and then follow the instructions.)

Conacher estimates the company is currently lobbying for more than 120 clients. The list includes TASER International, Inc., B.C. Lumber Trade Council, Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), Merck Frosst Canada Ltd., Pfizer Canada Inc., SNC Lavalin Nuclear Inc., Cameco Corporation, Irving Oil, Shell Canada Limited, Suncor Energy Inc., Talisman Energy Inc., Rio Tinto Plc., Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co., General Dynamics Canada, Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, Maple Leaf Foods, Bell Canada, Eurocopter Canada Ltd., and Bank of Nova Scotia.

Related individuals, organizations and significant events
Lobbyists gain with weak accountability legislation and regulations

Harper Conservative vs. Public Values Frame
  Back room deals, corporate friends / Transparency
  Revolving door to lobbying industry / Democracy
  Demanding accountability of others / Accountable to others

Links and sources
  Democracy Watch news release, December 12, 2008
  Former chief of staff to PM Harper signs on with major PR firm in Ottawa, Canadian Press, December 12, 2008

Posted: December 12, 2008

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