The staggering poverty that persists in many parts of the world can usually be traced to rampant government corruption.

Too often, corruption lies at the heart of undeveloped economies that are the result of dishonest leadership and deceptive government officials. It comes as no surprise that even some of the most poverty-stricken societies have governments that wallow in opulence and affluence. Corruption can put unscrupulous governments into power, and without international intervention, it can keep them there.

I am proud to be a member of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC). Headquartered in Ottawa, this non-partisan organization is the creation of John Williams, M.P. for Edmonton-St. Albert, who is a friend and colleague I have worked with for five years. Since its inception in 2002, GOPAC has attracted more than 900 members from 90 countries around the world. The membership is limited to current or former democratically elected members of Parliament, some of whom have been denied their right to take office.

Corruption thrives where transparency and accountability take a back seat to money-laundering, bribery and pay-offs. GOPAC provides support for parliamentarians in developing nations who want to engage in the fight against corruption. As elected representatives of people around the world, we are trying to assist those nations where corruption has become a blight on the local economy and a hindrance to development.

GOPAC has three main objectives to produce more democratic institutions:

1. Peer support for parliamentarians who encounter difficulty and danger as they fight corruption.
2. Education for parliamentarians who need to learn how to oversee their governments and counter corruption.
3. Leadership for parliamentarians to use the constitutional authority they have to hold their governments responsible and fulfill their mandate to the electorate.

Liberal M.P. Roy Cullen and I co-chair GOPAC’s Canadian chapter — CanPAC — which speaks up for good governance here and around the world. CanPAC urged the federal government to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and we have met with members of the U.S. Congress to seek their participation and support.

Is joining a group like GOPAC good use of an M.P.’s time in Ottawa? I believe that fighting global corruption reduces the threat of international instability, which makes the whole world a safer place, including Canada. Internal government corruption often renders international aid ineffective. And, as a trading nation, we need strong economies abroad for our mutual benefit.

The international community knows that this growing anti-corruption group of parliamentarians started in Canada. It sends the message that we don’t condone corruption here, and we will do our part to eradicate it anywhere it rears its ugly head. I believe that if parliamentarians have an opportunity to do good as we combat evil, we should do everything we can to get the job done.

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