Conservatives told to stop using partisan cheques

Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson has told federal Conservative MPs and cabinet ministers to cease using government cheques designed with Conservative party colours and slogans at government spending announcements. Dawson said that although using partisan props or ploys doesn’t violate the conflict-of-interest code or the conflict law, it should be discontinued and wants the government to do so. Doing so is going too far and corrodes the Canadian public's confidence in public institutions. Dawson has received many complaints from the public regarding the identification of government activities with partisan associations. Dawson also received 63 complaints in the fall from Liberal and New Democrat MPs complaining about Conservative colours, logos, or slogans on ceremonial cheques unveiled at news conferences and spending announcements.

The Conservatives were previously criticized for using these same kinds of news conferences and spending announcements to raise the profiles of unelected Conservatives candidates. The government was also called out for the logo of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, which directly resembled the Conservative Party's logo. You can see more photos of government cheques here.

A CBC news investigation also found that Conservative held ridings received approximately 60% of the economic stimulus funding, while opposition held ridings only received 40% of the economic stimulus funds. Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale's Saskatchewan riding received approximately $4.8 million in stimulus funds, while the adjacent riding, held by the Conservatives, received $6.5 million.