TORONTO -- Ontario's integrity commissioner has cleared Premier Dalton McGuinty of allegations he violated the Integrity Act by warning the prime minister about a health-care premium introduced in the province's's May budget.
The complaint was filed by Conservative member Bob Runciman, alleging McGuinty breached provisions of the Members' Integrity Act by discussing certain provisions of the budget to Prime Minister Paul Martin before it was introduced in the legislature.
Integrity Commissioner Coulter Osborne dismissed the complaint Thursday, along with a related complaint filed against Finance Minister Greg Sorbara by Conservative member Jim Flaherty.
In his report, Osborne said the member secrecy rules are in place to prevent financial speculation and loss of government revenues by pre-budget disclosure of budget provisions.
"Even if I were to conclude that a breach of the budget secrecy practice could constitute a breach of parliamentary convention, I see nothing inherently wrong in discussions about budget matters such as the Ontario health tax with federal officials," he said in the report.
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