Politicians Should Shape Up And Stop Lying; Reporters Should Stay Out Of Their Private Lives: York University Prof Contributes To New Book On Political Ethics

TORONTO, October 16, 1998 -- When it comes to politicians' conduct on public matters, most Canadians believe their representatives fail to measure up; but when it comes to their private lives, the media should butt out. This is one of the findings by York University Professor Ian Greene, co-author of A Question of Ethics: Canadians Speak Out, released today.

Published by Oxford University Press, the book studies the responses of 1,400 Canadians who were surveyed about issues surrounding ethics in politics, such as conflicts of interest, honesty, and undue influence. Greene is a member of the book's research team, led by Professor Maureen Mancuso of the University of Guelph. Greene's collaborators are political science professors Michael M. Atkinson of the University of Saskatchewan, Neil Nevitte of the University of Toronto, and AndrÈ Blais of the UniversitÈ de MontrÈal.

"The research shows that Canadians would like their politicians to live up to high ethical standards," said Greene. "However, the perception of most Canadians is that politicians rarely live up to those standards."

Greene and his colleagues show that people are much more trusting of their appointed judges than their elected politicians. Seventy per cent of Canadians had some degree of confidence in the courts, compared to 46 per cent who had the same confidence in Parliament. The authors conclude that politicians need to listen to the concerns of Canadians about ethical issues if they want to regain their confidence.

The book also shows that while Canadians believe their parliamentarians should be held to higher ethical standards in office, what they do in their private lives is no one's business.

"Canadians think it is important to respect the private lives of politicians," said Greene. "They are not happy with members of the media who intrude on the personal lives of elected officials and their families," he said.

Greene is co-author, with York Professor David Shugarman, of Honest Politics: Seeking Integrity in Canadian Public Life (Toronto: Lorimer, 1997). He is available for interviews by calling: (416) 736-5260, at home: (416) 763-0766.

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For more information, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
email: sinem@yorku.ca

Ken Turriff
Media Relations Officer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
email: kturriff@yorku.ca
YU/071/98