THE NOLAN PRINCIPLES-A NOVEL IDEA?

The following letter will shortly be sent to the Premier of Alberta, some lapdog Members of Legislature and various City of Airdrie, Alberta, United Nations owned councillors and It’s Worship, the mayor. There will be some editing before I hit send. It will be sent knowing that it may not be read or even acknowledged. So far gone are the owned bureaucrats. It’s like communicating with the dead cult members of a living monolithic technocracy. Imagine.

To All Public Servants,

  It is not without irony that ‘The Seven Principles of Public Life’, also known as ‘The ‘Nolan Principles’ appear on Gov.U.K.’s website, given their complete disintegration of the public service, Democracy, human rights and governance currently underway in the United Kingdom – where the sun never used to set. Canada, whether it is a real and viable nation – post national state or not – has been following a similar path to disintegration, supported by federal, provincial and municipal governments that seem to have lost touch with their primary function of acting solely in the public interest. The bureaucrat culture of our times has become detached from the Democratic and very basic task of working for the people in favor of supporting the agendas of ‘partners and stakeholders’ and the corporate interests of un-elected, ideologically driven non-government organizations. The USAID scandal and the Canadian Foreign Aid, Liberal government’s erasure of incrimminating data are clear indicators that the public trust in government has been compromised with a self-important sense of immunity from accountability. How many flags fly in front of our city halls? The very decline of the Democratic process at all levels of government has resulted in the belief by bureaucrats that any requests for accountability be viewed as a danger to their perceived privilege and status. Governments and the bureaucrat class are keen to restrict public engagement, free speech and other fundamental rights, in spite of unratified and carefully worded charters and bills of fundamental rights. This can leave any tax paying citizen of conscience to question whether or not the bureaucratic class has been compromised or incentivized by corporate non-government organizational interests. Taxation without representation of a distracted and demoralized working population by, de-facto or ‘elected’, governments is all too common. Any oaths by public officials to ‘do one’s best’ are weak and open to interpretation that serves government and not people.  

  Given that Canada and other nations are experiencing socio-economic collapse and existential threats, perhaps we could re-adopt some basic principles of governance that are fair and equitable to all citizens and ones separate from any ideological influences that might divide us. The only partners and stakeholders that public servants should serve are the citizens that have fairly elected them. This service should also be extended to unelected managers and executives.

 The following could be the gold standard of public service:

From Gov.U.K. –

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder. This includes all those who are elected or appointed or selected to public office, nationally and locally, and all people appointed to work in the Civil Service, local government, the police, courts and probation services, non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), and in the health, education, social and care services. All public office-holders are both servants of the public and stewards of public resources. The principles also apply to all those in other sectors delivering public services.

1. Selflessness: Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.
2. Integrity: Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
3. Objectivity: In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
4. Accountability: Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
5. Openness: Holders of public office should be as open and transparent about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
6. Honesty: Holders of public office should declare any private interests relating to their public duties and take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
7. Leadership: Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

  There are indications that marginally sane people and nations have had enough of the dangerous virtue signaling of partisan politics adopted by governments bent on morally, socially and financially bankrupting societies. There seems to be a shift back to common sense governance and accountability and less politics. Perhaps our public servants could see the need for change. Challenge yourselves to look at who you are to be serving…and then actually see how you are serving them. Think on how your actions will affect the futures of your children…your families. 

Sincerely,

Al Neitsch