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A Code of Ethics or Code of Conduct for Political Parties as a Potential Tool to Strengthen Electoral Democracy in Canada

6. WHAT SHOULD THE COVERAGE OF THE CODE BE?

The discussion of the type of document that might be adopted leads into issues related to the coverage of a potential code. By coverage, we mean which sorts of organizations and individuals should be subject to a code, which of their activities should be covered and during what time period the code should be in effect. More concretely, the following questions might be asked:

  • Should the code be focused only on the election and campaign process or on certain other aspects of the wider political process?
  • There already exists a Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, and there is a Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner of Canada, who oversees compliance with its provisions. How would the content and compliance provisions of a code of conduct for political parties complement and be harmonized in practice with the existing conflict of interest code for members of Parliament?
  • At a time when all parties are said to engage in permanent campaigning, is it artificial to focus only on the official campaign period?
  • Should the code limit its coverage to party organizations, leaders, elected representatives, candidates, persons seeking nomination to be candidates and constituency associations?
  • Should the code cover all actors associated with the campaign and related political processes, such as paid staff, provincial political representatives of the party, contractors who supply various services and volunteers?