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Corruption
Overview
No country is entirely free of corruption. However, if corruption becomes severe enough it can curtail economic growth and impede efforts to provide good governance, resulting in the general social degeneration of the vary fabric of society. As an obstacle to sustainable development, corruption has the potential to enlarge economic disparities and enhance the role of organized crime. In essence, if corruption goes unchecked, there is little room for democracy to flourish; little room for freedom to expand; little room for justice to prevail.
In recent years, international efforts to fight corruption, encourage transparency and increase accountability have gained momentum, thanks to an expanded understanding of corruption’s economic, political and social costs. As a result, significant gains have been made in the global fight against corruption. Canada strongly supports international efforts to combat corruption, both as a good governance issue as well as a crime problem. Furthermore, anti-corruption initiatives, while enhancing international trade and economic development are also highly relevant to Canada’s Human Security agenda.
Domestic Initiatives
Domestically, the Federal government has enacted a body of legislation, parliamentary rules and administrative provisions to prevent and prohibit corruption. The Income Tax Act and the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act came about as a result of such efforts.
International Initiatives
Canada plays an active role in the fight against corruption in a number of fora such as the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and various development banks. In 1998 Canada ratified the OECD Convention on Combatting Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and thus triggered the Convention’s entry into force. Canada also ratified the OAS’s Inter-American Convention Against Corruption at the OAS General Assembly in Windsor in June 2000. In the context of corruption and good governance, Canada has raised the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in both the OAS and OSCE; similarly, the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises includes a section on corruption.
In addition, Canada played an important role in the successful completion of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNCTOC), which came into force in October 2003. The UNCTOC includes a section on law enforcement measures to fight corruption. In recent months, efforts have focussed on the negotiation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Canada pursued a dynamic role in this process, which led to the creation of the widest-ranging global treaty dedicated to the fight against corruption. The UNCAC was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly on October 31st 2003, with a special signing ceremony held in Mexico that same year. Finally, on May 21st 2004, the Canadian Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Allan Rock, signed the UNCAC for Canada at the UN headquarters in New York City.
Additional Links
- Sixth Annual Report to Parliament - Tabled on October 21, 2005
- UN Convention Against Corruption
- Proposed United Nations Instrument against Corruption- Consultation Document
- Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act
- Annual Report to Parliament on the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act
- Justice Canada, "The Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act mdash; A Guide"
- Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC)
- 1997 UN's Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division on "United Nations action against Corruption and Bribery"
- UN Office on Drugs and Crime - Global Programme against Corruption
- Interpol Group of Experts on Corruption (IGEC)
- OECD, "Corruption"
- OAS's Inter-American Convention Against Corruption
- World Bank Institute, “Governance and Anti-Corruption”
- Asian Development Bank, "Anti-Corruption"
- World Trade Organization, "Government procurement: transparency"
- Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), "Anti-Corruption"
- G8, "Fighting Corruption and Improving Transparency"
- Framework for Commonwealth Principles on Promoting Good Governance and Combatting Corruption
- World Customs Organization: "WCO Integrity Program"
- Reporting Economic Crime Online (RECOL)
- Export Development Canada, "Anti-Corruption Program"
- Office of Public Service Values and Ethics, "Values and Ethics Internationally"
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