Liberals want all MPPs banned from political fundraisers
All MPPs would be banned from attending provincial political fundraisers under a surprise Liberal change to campaign finance legislation.
Thestar.com
Aug. 29, 2016
By Robert Benzie
All MPPs would be banned from attending provincial political fundraisers under a surprise Liberal proposal to bolster campaign finance legislation.
Government House leader Yasir Naqvi stunned Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats during clause-by-clause debate of the bill on Monday by announcing the prohibition.
“When the House resumes in September we will be introducing an amendment to ban fundraising events for all MPPs,” Naqvi said in a statement.
“There are currently no amendments before the committee that go as far as we need to go on this issue. Any rules on fundraising should apply equally to all political parties.
“The opposition only seem interested in preventing the party in government from holding events. We feel that does not go far enough. As a result we will be voting down their weaker amendments on the issue and bring forward a stronger amendment ... ”
Naqvi’s gambit would bolster legislation banning union and corporate donations to political parties that was sparked by a Star probe last March.
Opposition members were unimpressed by the Liberals’ ambush.
Progressive Conservative MPP Randy Hillier said the move was in effect “an edict” from a majority government.
“This is preordained. It’s preordained,” said Hillier (Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington), complaining that the Liberals are governing as if there is “one-party rule” by ignoring opposition feedback on the bill.
New Democrat MPP Catherine Fife (Kitchener-Waterloo) said it was “shocking that this government is changing the rules mid-process.”
“It’s disrespectful to our democracy,” said Fife, adding “we cannot trust Liberals, they do not honour their word.”
Under the new law, annual donation limits will be cut to $1,200 - down from the current $9,975.
To offset that, a per-vote public subsidy for political parties will be $2.71 a year, though Naqvi said that could be increased to help riding associations affected by the new ban on politicians attending fundraisers, which will effectively kill such events.
“Banning fundraising events is a significant change that will affect both parties and riding associations,” he said, adding next month “amendments will include increasing the per-vote allowance to offset the impacts on parties and riding associations.”
“I want to be clear our amendments will not ban fundraising all together but rather ban parties and riding associations from holding fundraising events where elected politicians of any party attend.”
Naqvi, who is also attorney general, told reporters the government believes the ban could withstand any constitutional challenge.
Under the $2.71-per vote formula, which is based on the results of the 2014 election:
- The Liberals, with 1,863,974 votes that year, would receive $5.06 million annually starting in January.
- The Progressive Conservatives, with 1,508,811 votes, would get $4.09 million.
- The New Democrats, with 1,144,822 votes, would get $3.1 million.
- The Green Party of Ontario, with 232,536 votes, would get $630,000.
Other proposed changes to campaign finance legislation include:
Annual individual donation limits will be $1,200 to a party, $1,200 to candidates of a party and $1,200 to riding associations and nomination contestants of a party. That $3,600-a-year overall cap is down from the $33,250 limit that applies now.
All government advertising will be banned in the 60 days before the start of a scheduled election and third-party groups - such as unions - would be limited to $100,000 in advertising during elections and $600,000 in the six preceding months.
Political parties would be limited to spending $1 million in the six-month lead-up to an election.
Premier Kathleen Wynne announced the sweeping reforms after the Star revealed on March 29 that cabinet ministers had secret Liberal fundraising targets of up to $500,000 a year.
