Corruption

No country is entirely free of corruption. But if corruption is deep enough it can hinder economic growth and good governance, and decay the fabric of society. Corruption is an obstacle to sustainable development, with the potential to enlarge economic gaps and breed organized crime. Unchecked corruption leaves little room for democracy to flourish; little room for freedom to expand; little room for justice to prevail.

We have made significant gains in the global fight against corruption. Better understandings of its economic, political and social costs have spurred recent international efforts to fight corruption, encourage transparency and increase accountability. Canada strongly supports international efforts to combat corruption, regarding it as a good governance issue, a crime problem, and a drag on economic, social and political development Initiatives

The Federal government's Federal Accountability Act has been a key priority for the government. It sets out a whole series of new measures aimed at increasing integrity in government, strengthening public accountability and fighting corrupt activities.

International Initiatives

Canada fights against corruption through international groups 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 Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, which 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, Ontario in June 2000. Canada has raised the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) relating to corruption and good governance, in the OAS and OSCE. OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises also include a section on corruption.

Canada played an important part in completing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNCTOC), which came into force in October 2003 with a section on law enforcement measures to fight corruption. We also played a dynamic role in negotiating the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) to help create the widest-ranging global treaty ever dedicated to the fight against corruption. The UN General Assembly adopted UNCAC unanimously on 31 October 2003, and Canada's Ambassador to the UN signed the UNCAC for Canada at UN headquarters on 21 May 2004. Canada's legislation to implement the UNCAC received Royal Assent in May of 2007, and Canada formally ratified in October 2008.

Links

• UN Convention Against Corruption
• Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act
• Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC)
• UN Office on Drugs and Crime - Global Programme against Corruption
• World Bank Institute, "Governance and Anti-Corruption"
• Transparency International
• Transparency International Canada