There is no public interest served by deputies at dark

When Liberal MP Raj Grewal announced that he would resign for personal problems that turned out to be a serious gambling problem, his small career included a footnote mentioned by some: Mr. Grewal, in addition to To be the Liberal MP for Parliament Brampton East is also working for a construction company.

This is a detail that has already been raised when members of the NDP asked the Ethics Commissioner to investigate Mr. Grewal for inviting his employer to events with Prime Minister Justin. Trudeau during a visit to India in February. Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion has launched an investigation.

But the job itself, the fact that an elected MP has another job – this was not the problem.

So, why are we in agreement with the representatives of the people who are moonlighting for someone else?

In the early years in Canada, a seat in the Commons was sometimes perceived as a sinecure that only required a few months of sitting in the capital.

But now, with longer sessions and larger ridings that need representation, it's hard to imagine how members could afford to share their working time – or why Canadians should be willing to share them with another employer.

And then there is a significant risk of conflict for someone whose job it is to pbad laws, look at government programs and encourage the government to adopt policies.

Ministers and parliamentary secretaries are already prohibited, with few exceptions, from working outside.

Admittedly, the backbench and opposition MPs do not have the same potential for conflict because they are not aware of the official secrets and do not make decisions for the future. 39; executive. And with the stifling party discipline of Canada, some members feel they have no influence.

Yet they are the legislators of the nation. They should and can influence the way the country is run. The question of whether their other work could be embarrbading really should not be a question.

Mr. Grewal was employed by two companies, a Brampton general contractor named Zgemi Inc. – for whom he believed he provided legal advice – and a law firm called Gahir and Associates. The Ethics Commissioner's investigation involves complaints that he invited Zgemi's general manager, Yusuf Yenilmez, to attend the Trudeau events in India.

Mr. Grewal told reporters a few months ago that the commissioner had authorized his outside work. But it does not have to be erased. A member's disclosure of his outside job is made public – but his constituents do not know what kind of work they do or to what extent. And of course, reporting the work to the Ethics Commissioner does not facilitate your boss's invitation to the Prime Minister's events in India.

The fact is that Canadians should not have to worry about whether a member of the House gives his boss special treatment. They should be able to badume that voters are his only boss.

Since last Thursday, when Mr. Grewal announced his resignation for personal and medical reasons, the Prime Minister's Office revealed that Mr. Grewal was suffering "from a gambling problem that caused him to contract". Large personal debts ". On Tuesday, The Globe and Mail reported that the RCMP is monitoring Mr. Grewal and millions of dollars in transactions, including at a casino in Gatineau.

There is no evidence that Mr. Grewal's outside work has anything to do with it. But these revelations naturally raise new questions about Mr. Grewal's outside activities. Why does a member of Parliament work for a construction company? Why did he invite his boss to the Prime Minister's events? Why did he and his employer, Zgemi, take out a $ 116,824 Land Rover loan? The answers may be innocuous, but there should never be any questions about a member of Parliament and his other boss.

Dozens of MPs have outside jobs. Some should not be worrying. Even ministers are allowed to retain qualifications for professions, such as doctors, as long as they are not remunerated. It might still be acceptable for backbenchers to play a role in the board of directors of a family business.

But have another employer? That does not really correspond to the role of the national legislator in 2018. A member of Parliament representing clients as a lawyer should realize that he is already representing his constituents. It may be a personal sacrifice, but deputies in the dark serve no public purpose. Citizens should never have to ask who the boss is.