Chuck Strahl has stepped down as the head of Canada's Security Intelligence Review Committee.
In a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that was shared with media Friday afternoon, Strahl said that he "retired from politics three years ago" and is not interested in being "in the centre of a political fray."
"Nor do I want to be a distraction from the important work SIRC does everyday in ensuring the security of Canadians," he added. "It is therefore with regret that I have concluded it is best for all concerned that I step down as Chair of SIRC."
The prime minister quickly responded saying he had accepted Strahl's resignation and that another Conservative MP, Deborah Grey, will act as chair until a permanent replacement is appointed.
"I would like to extend my personal best wishes to Chuck in all of his future endeavours," Stephen Harper said in a press release.
Strahl came under fire recently after it came to light that while serving as the chair of the SIRC, which oversees Canada's spy agency, he registered as a lobbyist for Northern Gateway pipeline builder Enbridge. Strahl served as a Conservative MP from 1993 to 2011. As a former cabinet minister he was forbidden from lobbying the federal government, but registered under the B.C. provincial registry to lobby for Enbridge.
The Harper government appointed Strahl in 2012 to a five-year term as chair of SIRC.
In his letter to the prime minister, Strahl said that from the day he was appointed he "carefully ensured that PCO and the Ethics Commissioner's office have always been aware of my activities, both as a volunteer in various organizations and in private business." He added that "Without exception... they have indicated that at all times I have been fully compliant with all relevant rules and regulations."
While Strahl was not barred from lobbying provincially, opposition critics blasted Strahl for working for a company seeking federal government approval for a pipeline while also sitting on the federal watchdog committee.
"It should be common sense that someone on the federal payroll, like Mr. Strahl, shouldn't lobby for a pipeline seeking federal government approval," the NDP's Nathan Cullen told the Canadian Press.
Here is Strahl's letter in full:
Dear Prime Minister,
Please accept this letter as formal notice of my decision to step down as Chair of the Security intelligence Review Committee. I was appointed to the role at SIRC during a time of transition, and was pleased to be able to assist and lead that effort. The organization has successfully assumed the new responsibilities given to it by Parliament, while building a strong team of full-time staff to run the affairs day-to-day. Both SIRCs staff and Committee members are dedicated to giving Parliament an accurate critique of CSISs operations, to ensure they operate in a manner consistent with their legislative mandate, the Charter, and Ministerial direction. SIRC's annual reports to Parliament also contain recommendations to legislators and CSIS on how to ensure ever-better protections for Canadians both of their security, and their legitimate rights and expectations.
Since the day of my appointment, (and even before) I have carefully ensured that PCO and the Ethics Commissioner's office have always been aware of my activities, both as a volunteer in various organizations and in private business. Throughout the term of my appointment, I have checked with these experts and have appreciated and followed their advice to me.
Without exception, and as clearly stated in the attached recent letter from the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, they have indicated that at all times I have been fully compliant with all relevant rules and regulations, and have affirmed that all of my post-political activities were consistently appropriate and above board. Any recent criticism in this regard is entirely spurious and unfounded.
Despite the fact that my compliance with all relevant rules and regulations has been clearly demonstrated, I retired from politics three years ago and do not wish to be in the centre of the political fray. Nor do I want to be a distraction from the important work SIRC does everyday in ensuring the security of Canadians. It is therefore with regret that I have concluded it is best for all concerned that I step down as Chair of SIRC.
Thank you for the privilege of serving Parliament and our country. It has been an honour.
This article is reprinted with permission from iPolitics.
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