By ALTHIA RAJ, NATIONAL BUREAU
OTTAWA -- Public speaking can be a lucrative business for parliamentarians.
Some of them receive thousands of dollars for delivering a speech to corporate and non-profit groups that lasts anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.
Former prime minister Jean Chretien, for one, charges $50,000 a speech.
Liberal MPs Justin Trudeau, Bob Rae, Ken Dryden and Kirsty Duncan, Sen. Romeo Dallaire and junior Tory minister Peter Kent are also listed as clients of paid public speaking agencies.
They may not be breaking any rules, but critics feel parliamentarians should not be allowed to accept speakers' fees.
It is "loathsome," "unethical" and "sheer gluttony," said NPD MP Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre).
"We're already very well compensated to do our job and speak on issues," he said.
Hockey legend Ken Dryden said he has not done any paid engagements since becoming an MP and would refuse new offers. "That's not what I do now," he said.
Last week, former broadcaster Sen. Pamela Wallin gave a paid speech to a group of municipal councillors.
Her agency wouldn't disclose the fee, but the Association of Municipalities of Ontario said they paid her more than $10,000.
AMO executive director Pat Vanini said Wallin was booked for her expertise in Canada-U.S. relations and was worth every penny.
Wallin did not respond to repeated requests for an interview.
Another former TV personality, Sen. Mike Duffy, said he has done two paid speeches since December, both booked while he was at CTV.
"After you become a senator, many people expect you to speak for free," he said.
Senate ethics officer Jean Fournier said senators "cannot accept any payment, any benefit, any honorarium" if their speech or participation in a conference relate to their parliamentary duties and responsibilities.
Dallaire frequently accepts paid engagements but only if they relate to his former life as a lieutenant-general with the Canadian military, said his private secretary David Hyman. Dallaire consults the ethics officer, often does speeches pro bono and uses his speaking fee to fund his charity work, Hyman said.
HONORARIUMS
On the House of Commons side, "nothing" in the conflict of interest code prevents MPs from accepting honorariums, said ethics commissioner spokeswoman Jocelyne Brisebois.
But ministers, ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries should clear speaking requests with the office, she said.
Kent and Rae's offices said neither had accepted paid engagements since becoming MPs.
althia.raj@sunmedia.ca
the winnipeg sandbox
