Language watchdog worried by partisan disclosure bill

Canada's official languages watchdog has issued a final plea to MPs reviewing Conservative MP Mark Adler's bid to to force agents of Parliament and their staff to publicly declare past political activity as part of the standard job application process.

In a letter sent to ethics committee chair Pat Martin, Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser says he's concerned the bill "implies that partisan experience is something to be ashamed of — a liability rather than an asset."

He's worried that the provisions in the bill — which would also require parliamentary officers and staff to sign an oath pledging to conduct themselves "in a non-partisan manner" — could "discourage talented people … committed to the ideal of linguistic duality" from coming to work in his office.

The comments echo the concerns raised in a joint letter from Fraser and his fellow parliamentary watchdogs earlier this year.

Bill to undergo clause-by-clause review next week

Fraser also points out that, despite Adler's assertion that agents of Parliament 'sit in judgment of MPs,' in his case, that isn't the case, as the official languages law doesn't apply to parliamentarians.

In fact, he argues, "the reverse is true" — it is MPs who sit in judgment of him.

"They questioned me on my qualifications for the job before voting on my appointment," he notes, "and can summon me to appear, cross-examine me, criticize me and vote to have me dismissed."

While his letter doesn't include any specific recommendation for the committee charged with considering — and, if warranted, amending — the bill, Fraser signs off by offering to come before the committee at any time if a parliamentarian feels that his decisions "have been, or appear to have been affected by partisan considerations."

The committee is set to begin clause-by-clause consideration of the bill next week.

Read the full text of the letter here: