Last summer, as a result of a response to a Request for Proposal, a team of researchers and consultants selected by and under the direction of Professor David Shugarman, in association with the York University Centre for Practical Ethics (YCPE), was chosen as the Canadian Implementing Partner of a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) ethics project. The project involves working with Chinese delegations and conducting study tours for them of particular Canadian offices and agencies that contribute to ethical governance in various jurisdictions across Canada.

CIDA's Policy Option Project (POP - 2007-10) focuses on assisting the Chinese with their stated objectives of strengthening ethical conduct within the Chinese government and building an honest and efficient administrative system in conjunction with their policy reform agenda. The project links Canadian experts and policy-makers with an implementing partner from the Ministry of Supervision of the Peoples Republic of China.

Our YCPE team of Canadian consultants will introduce the Chinese delegations to key personnel and agencies from the governments of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Alberta and British Columbia as well as from other sectors concerned with ethical oversight and good governance. We will also be providing our Chinese Implementing Partner with background information about Canada's ethics developments in the public sector, workshops, technical advice and assistance on priority issues related to China's reform agenda.

The specially tailored YCPE Canadian Implementing Team that has been brought together for this initiative has extensive knowledge and expertise in analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of Canada's various ethics regimes and practices. It also has members familiar with Chinese governance reform. In addition to Professor Shugarman, the team includes York University Professors Wes Cragg. Bernie Frolic, and Ian Greene, Professor Kernaghan Webb of Ryerson University, Mr. James Klotz of Davis and Co., Ms Joy Kennedy of the United Church of Canada and Ms Janet Keeping and Ms Heather MacIntosh, both of whom are from the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership which is headquartered in Calgary.

Our plan is to share our knowledge of Canada's developments in public sector ethics and to work with the Chinese Implementing Partners to assist them in borrowing and adapting what they think is sensible and workable in the Chinese context. The project aims to assist researchers and representatives from the Administrative Supervision Research Institute of China's Ministry of Supervision with respect to their expressed interests in developing policies to improve ethical principles and practices in China's public administration and government. Their team has indicated that it is especially interested in learning how Canada at various governmental and administrative levels is dealing with conflict of interest questions and seeking to avoid corruption.

The first study tour commences in mid-May. Our team will be welcoming twelve representatives of the Chinese Implementing Partner (ChIP) from their Research Institute. Deputy-General Fu Kui, who graciously hosted and chaired the first meeting of representatives from the YCPE team and the ChIP in Beijing last fall, is leading their delegation.