The Honourable Preston Manning should step away completely from any involvement with the National Citizens Inquiry while leading the Provincial Alberta Inquiry. Moving from spokesman to advisor as announced today doesn’t cut it while also still remaining a director . It is verbal slight of hand.

I am not against the Alberta Inquiry. I have been calling for all Governments to establish or support independent inquiries .

I am against conflict of interest which in this case arises when a Director of the Non Profit Corporation established to create the NCI , accepts  a paid position with one of the Governments to be investigated. The NCI was created to be independent of Governments.

On its website the NCI says :

‘The National Citizen’s Inquiry (NCI) is a citizen-led and citizen-funded initiative that is completely independent from government.’

How can ‘completely independent from Government’  be honoured when one of the three directors is a paid contractor with the Government of a Province ?

This defies any real meaning of conflict of interest.

Lord Chief Justice Hewart said as far back as 1924:

‘Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done”.

In no way does the NCI actions meet this condition!!!

For a citizens inquiry to begin with such promise of accountability and transparency, to be a truly independent voice for

Canadians , to degenerate into connections overriding true integrity and independence is tragic.

I stepped away from the inquiry because of my public statements , Preston Manning should step away because of his actions.

Honouable A. Brian Peckford