The importance of ethical leadership

Speaker:
Jean T Fournier
Senate Ethics Officer, Office of the Senate Ethics, Canada

Abstract:
Ethical leadership is universally recognised as an important part of most fields of endeavour — be it business, crime prevention, law enforcement, healthcare, science or journalism. Nowhere is it more important than in government, both in the public service but particularly for those serving in legislative bodies at all levels.

These officials have been given tremendous responsibility to represent the views of their communities. In their positions of authority they pass laws, vote on government spending, debate and decide on important policy issues. Society believes these individuals should make impartial decisions with the best interests of the public in mind, and not self interest. These persons occupy positions of trust, and high ethical behaviour is expected of them. It takes but a few cases of serious corruption, or unethical conduct or behaviour by members of Parliament or legislators, to lead to a disproportionate loss of public confidence in elected officials and legislative institutions.

Furthermore, the ethics bar is rising. Expectations have risen higher as the public has become better educated with access to multiple sources of information. Accountability and transparency matter as never before. People want greater scrutiny and more vigilant oversight of institutions. Increasingly, codified standards are expected to be world class, as ethical regimes today are measured against international standards, and judged by what is happening in other jurisdictions.

Over the last 50 years, there have been significant developments around the world in the field of ethical leadership in Parliaments and Legislatures. But while progress has been made, much more needs to be done. The challenge today is how to strengthen ethical leadership, to determine how it can be taken further.

Speaking from a perspective of forty years in government, the last four as Ethics Officer for the Senate of Canada, Mr Fournier posits a multi-point construct of benchmarks to be achieved, in order for any legislative ethics framework to be deemed effective, and ultimately, successful. As parliamentarians 'own' these ethics regimes, they need to show leadership in improving them.

While the concepts are illustrated through the lens of a parliamentary framework, each is based on a principle. Although the mechanics may differ, these fundamental principles are straightforwardly transferable to different environments and constituencies, and can be useful in the public sector, business and civil society for those wishing to evaluate their current ethics regimes or craft a new one.