Tories' proposed accountability act passes Senate
Last Updated: Friday, December 8, 2006 | 11:47 AM ET
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The Conservative government's proposed accountability act passed the Senate on Friday and is expected to be signed into law next week.
The Liberal-dominated Senate passed the bill with 90 of the roughly 150 amendments proposed by both Tory and Liberal senators.
Senators succeeded in removing a clause calling for a single ethics commissioner for both Houses of Parliament. Members of the upper house have maintained complete separation of the two legislative bodies.
Senators failed to raise the amount of legal costs the government will cover for whistleblowers, which the proposed legislation sets at $1,500.
They also failed in their bid to reduce the large number of exemptions the government can use to shield documents under the Access to Information Act.
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean is expected to give the bill royal assent early next week after she returns from a month-long visit to Africa.
A key campaign plank during Prime Minister Stephen Harper's campaign for the Jan. 23 election, the proposed act aims to clean up the way government does business and make politicians more accountable.
It includes new ethics regulations and oversight, and places a cap on political donations to candidates or parties. It also bans union and corporate donations.
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