OTTAWA — Politicians and lobbyists are getting a free ride or are being let “off the hook” when it comes to ethics complaints, according to Democracy Watch.

The independent government watchdog group issued a statement Thursday slamming both federal Commissioner for Lobbying Karen Shepherd and the federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson for failing to act on complaints it has made to their offices.

“Democracy Watch’s opinion is that, like past ethics enforcement lapdogs, the current federal commissioner of lobbying and ethics commissioner are sitting on serious ethics complaints and continuing to let federal lobbyists and politicians off the hook for highly questionable actions,” said Duff Conacher, co-ordinator of Democracy Watch.

Conacher says Shepherd has failed to act on five complaints he filed with her, and Dawson has taken months to rule on complaints filed last October about fundraising events held by Conservative cabinet minister Lisa Raitt, and Tory MP Rick Dykstra.

A spokeswoman for Dawson’s office said Democracy Watch is off base with its allegations because there is no deadline for complaints made to their offices.

“The length of time it takes to complete an investigation depends on the nature and complexity of the issues involved,” Jocelyne Brisebois said in an e-mail. “The Commissioner cannot comment specifically on any ongoing investigation.”

A spokeswoman for Shepherd’s office said the commissioner also could not comment on any ongoing cases but was working hard to resolve its outstanding cases.

“When an alleged, known or suspected breach of the Lobbying Act or the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct is brought to the attention of the Commissioner of Lobbying, she takes these matters seriously,” Natalie Hall said in an e-mail.

peter.zimonjic@sunmedia.ca