Stop big money in Canadian politics

Details: Published on Tuesday, 14 June 2016 14:00; Written by editor

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Help stop big money in Canadian politics

Money to the Ref? We don’t allow that in hockey or baseball or other sports – but in politics it’s legal!

Politicians are the referees of what is in the public interest, and no one should be allowed to influence them with big money donations or gifts.

Ontario’s Liberal government has just proposed allowing wealthy people to donate more than $4,500 a year overall to each political party, and more than $7,500 during an election year – some of their other proposed changes are good but they are... not enough to stop the influence of big money.

In B.C., Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon unlimited donations big business and unions are allowed, even from foreign companies. And in New Brunswick, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories businesses and unions are allowed to make very big donations.

And while the federal government, Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia have banned corporate and union donations, they also still allow undemocratically high donations that only wealthy people can afford.

Please send your letter now by clicking here calling on politicians across Canada to stop big money by lowering the donation limit to $100-200 a year – as Quebec did in 2013 to stop wealthy people from using money as an undemocratic, unethical way of influencing politicians and parties.

Please also sign Democracy Watch’s petition on Change.org by clicking here that calls on Ontario political parties to make key changes to stop big money in Ontario politics.

Dear Friend,

Politicians are supposed to be the referees who decide what is in the public interest – so why would we allow wealthy people to buy them off with huge donations, including secret donations?

The Toronto Star recently revealed that Ontario’s Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, and her Cabinet ministers, and the opposition party leaders, were all holding high-priced, secret exclusive events where politicians sell access to themselves in return for a big donation. The Globe and Mail reported that political parties in B.C. were holding similar unethical fundraising events.

When these unethical fundraising events were revealed, the Ontario Liberals first resisted making any changes, and then Premier Wynne stopped the events and promised changes. Some of their proposed changes are good, including: a ban on donations by businesses, unions and other organizations; limits on political party and third party advertising spending leading up to an election, and during an election campaign period, and; registration requirements and limits on donations to nomination race candidates and political party leadership race candidates.

However, the Liberals propose to continue to allow individuals to donate more than $4,500 a year overall to each political party, and more than $7,500 during an election year. That is much, much more than most voters can afford, and will continue to allow wealthy people to use money to influence politicians and parties.

A high donation limit also makes it easy for businesses and unions to give money to their managers (and their family members) to make big donations. Quebec banned donations from businesses and unions years ago, but allowed people to donate $3,000 a year. Elections Quebec audited donations from 2006-2011 and found more than $12 million in donations by business managers that likely came from money their business gave them.

Even though it was illegal in Quebec for businesses to funnel donations through their managers, no one has been charged or prosecuted – the managers just claim it was their money and their decision to make the donation. To stop these corrupting donations, Quebec lowered its donation limit to $100 a year in 2013.

Across Canada, businesses, unions or wealthy people are allowed to use big donations as an unethical, undemocratic way of influencing politicians and political parties.

Please help stop big money in Canadian politics by r37