David Dingwall

David Charles Dingwall, PC (born June 29, 1952) is a former Canadian Cabinet minister and civil servant.

A lawyer by training, Dingwall was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1980 Canadian federal election as the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Breton—East Richmond in Nova Scotia. He was re-elected in three subsequent elections, and served as Opposition House Leader from 1991 to 1993.

Cabinet Minister

After the Liberals won the 1993 Canadian election under Jean Chrétien, Dingwall was appointed to Cabinet as Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Minister of Public Works and Minister of Supply and Services. In 1996, he was moved to the position of Minister of Health. Dingwall, one of Chrétien's strongest allies, was the Liberals' senior minister in Nova Scotia was responsible for patronage projects; one example being an infamous rock wall surrounding the campus of the then-UCCB (now CBU) as part of a beautification project - it was promptly labelled "the Ding Wall". As minister of Public Works, Dingwall hired Chuck Guité and set in motion changes to the advertisement procurement system that evolved into the Sponsorship Scandal.

Dingwall, however, was soon viewed as "out of touch" with his riding, and a disenchantment in the Atlantic Provinces with the government's changes to Unemployment Insurance and cuts in fish quotas made him vulnerable. The government's decision to withdraw federal subsidies to coal mines in Cape Breton Island (although not formalized until 1999), and Dingwall's apparent arrogance when confronted by miners in an embarrassing televised forum further alienated the public from him. Combined with Nova Scotian Alexa McDonough's NDP gaining favour in the province, Dingwall lost his riding by 1400 votes in the 1997 election to Michelle Dockrill.

After politics

Following his defeat, Dingwall served as the president of his lobbying firm Wallding International Inc., as well as on several corporate boards of directors, including Rogers Sugar Income Fund and MD Life.^[1] On February 27, 2003, the federal government appointed him to the position of president and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Canadian Mint.^[2] His leadership led that organization to increased profitability and posting its first surplus in several years [1]. He resigned in late September 2005, in the midst of a controversy arising out of allegations concerning his failure to register as a lobbyist on behalf of a pharmaceutical company, his receipt of contingent lobbying fees contrary to government rules, and expenses claimed in connection with his employment at the Mint.

Having been public works minister in the mid-1990s, Dingwall has been called to testify in relationship to the Sponsorship Scandal, and contracts given out during his time in the department have come under scrutiny.

Royal Canadian Mint scandal

In the fall of 2005, Dingwall came under scrutiny for having allegedly made excessive expense claims while he was president of the Canadian Mint. Conservative MP Brian Pallister had received documents on Mint expenses and made them public. Those documents showed that Dingwall and his top aides accumulated office expenses of more than $740,000 in 2004. That total included $130,000 in foreign and domestic travel, $14,000 in meals and $11,000 in hospitality.[2] Among the items charged were $1,400 for his membership in the Rivermead Golf Club, $5,900 in automobile expenses, and $1,500 in membership fees in the Nova Scotia Barristers Society.^[3]

In the midst of these allegations, Dingwall resigned from his position with the Mint on September 28, 2005.[3] When questioned while giving testimony before Parliament as to why he felt he should receive a severance package after the voluntary resignation, he remarked "I'm entitled to my entitlements." [4] The statement would be used by the Conservatives in a television advertisement during the 2006 federal election that featured that part of Dingwall's testimony.

On October 26, 2005, a CBC story reported that an independent audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers "found the expenses fell within the guidelines", but it added that "judging those guidelines wasn't part of its mandate." A second independent review by law firm Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt found that the Mint's process for monitoring expenses was stricter than that of most private corporations. The twin reports completely exonerated Dingwall.

On February 4, 2006, it was released that the government was following its binding arbitration ruling by paying Dingwall $417,780 along with associated pension benefits. It was also discovered that Dingwall had been forced to resign from his position at the Canadian mint. The Liberal government had knowledge of this settlement on January 20, 2006, but did not inform the public.^[4] This drew harsh words from members of the Conservative and New Democratic Parties, who accused the Liberals of hiding the information to not affect the January 23 election.

Dingwall testified that he resigned voluntarily after the controversy erupted over his expense account claims. Former prime minister Paul Martin and former revenue minister John McCallum also insisted that was the case. However, a report from retired Superior Court Judge, George Adams found the government essentially forced out Dingwall.^[5]

References

1. ^ The CN Journal, The Official Publication of the Canadian Numismatic Association, Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 75-76, March 2003
2. ^ The CN Journal, The Official Publication of the Canadian Numismatic Association, Vol. 53, No. 4, p. 205, May 2008
3. ^ Canadian Coin News, Vol. 43, No. 14, November 1–14, 2005
4. ^ "Dingwall gets $418,000 in settlement with feds". CTV News, February 4, 2006.
5. ^ "Dingwall had no choice but to quit, report finds". CTV News, April 12, 2006.

External links

• David Dingwall - Parliament of Canada biography
• Volpe, Dingwall winners of dubious 'Teddy' award

26th Ministry – Cabinet of Jean Chrétien
Cabinet Posts (5)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
legislation enacted	Minister of Health 1996–1997	Allan Rock
Diane Marleau	Minister of National Health and Welfare 1996 styled as Minister of Health	legislation enacted
Paul Dick	Minister of Public Works 1993–1996 styled as Minister of Public Works and Government Services	Diane Marleau
Paul Dick	Minister of Supply and Services 1993–1996 styled as Minister of Public Works and Government Services	Diane Marleau
Ross Reid	Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency 1993–1996	John Manley

Preceded by Emmanuel Triassi (acting)

Royal Canadian Mint President 2003 - 2005

Succeeded by Marguerite Nadeau (acting)

Persondata
Name	Dingwall, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 29, 1952
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death