By Julian Beltrame, The Canadian PressAn annual allowance of $1.75 (now $1.95) per vote was introduced in late 2003, when the outgoing Chretien government moved to get the big money out of politics, banning corporate and union donations. The same bill also raised the percentage of election expenses that are reimbursed to political parties from 22.5% to 50% (60% for 2004 election), thereby ensuring that no major party ever runs out of campaign funds. (Nobody back then expected the Green party to pass the 2% threshold and become eligible for a slice of the pie.)
OTTAWA - Symbolic cuts to politicians' perks, temporary relief for pension plans and a political grenade - ending the $30 million public subsidy to parties - are expected highlights of Thursday's federal economic statement.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will ask the five political parties to give up the $1.95-per-vote subsidy they get to pay for staff and expenses.
I believe it's time to make the next step and to get the federal funds out of politics. The status-quo allows major political parties to run an election campaign with little or no fundraising. The greatest example is the Bloc Quebecois, which has been operating almost entirely on its $2.5M - $3M annual allowance for the past few years. Its fundraising amounts to mere $30-$50 thousand per quarter, but the Bloc doesn't really need any fundraising. The allowance (combined with 50% election expense reimbursement) provides the separatist party with more than enough funds to run a fully paid campaign in Quebec.
So I applaud the measure that would force all political parties (not just those that receive less than 2% of the votes) to rely solely on supporters. If there aren't enough ordinary Canadians willing to donate to their cause - there's absolutely no reason why taxpayers should be forced to pitch in.
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