Suggestions to Canada: Help the US fight corruption
During the past two weeks, there has been growing horror as the Trump administration makes changes to its approach to corruption. We’ve noted that there has been a significant movement to lessen the impact of the FCPA and anti-kleptocracy approaches. On 17 February a novel idea as to what can be done has been espoused by Kristofer Harrison, Canada’s Other Anti-Trump Weapon: Fighting Corruption. He notes that Canada should use the many legal processes to deal with the kleptocrat areas that the Trump administration will clearly begin to use. He states that “Canada is well positioned — with more soft power and diplomatic capital than almost any other country — to wield anti-corruption as a weapon that leverages pressure against Trump’s destructive tariffs and anti-democracy agenda.”
Is this a good idea? To some degree, as any push back on what is going on in the US, it is great. What else can and should be done will be to keep on publishing each action as publicly as possible, which is essential. So much of what government does is shared in public, yet deadly bureaucratic publications, do not publicize the positive elements of anti-corrupt legislation. What we all have learned is communication of actions, which provide the citizens with protections from corruption, should be communicated clearly and as loudly as possible. This allows citizens to understand the importance of eliminating kleptocrats and what this means for the average Canadian and American.
How can this be done? As has been previously noted, every action can and should be publicized by CSOs, both as the work is being done and then when it is completed. Government officials who are doing the right thing should be applauded and supported, supported publicly by groups like Mr. Harrison leads and anyone who can hear it. So many bad things occur in the dark, so it would be great to bring to light the good things.
Link: https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2025/02/17/Canada-Other-Anti-Trump-Weapon-Fighting-Corruption/