Campaign cash: Halifax asks province for permission to start finance reform
MetroNews.ca
Aug. 10, 2015
Zane Woodford
Changes may be coming to the rules governing how those running for mayor and council in Halifax bankroll their campaigns.
The city’s executive standing committee voted Monday to ask the province to open up the city charter to allow council to change the rules around campaign financing, though that’s not likely to happen until after the next municipal election.
Mayor Mike Savage has led the charge on changing the rules, and said after Monday’s meeting that it’s not enough to just put a limit on how much money can be raised in total.
Savage points to possibilities such as putting limits on how much money candidates could receive from one person or corporation and limiting when candidates can raise money.
“I have my idea of what campaign rules should be, but all the other councillors do as well,” he said.
During Monday’s meeting, some other councillors questioned the decision to open up the charter without knowing what they want to change.
“I see that this is sort of in vogue lately, and many municipalities are doing it and it’s a growing trend and I support looking at things, but there’s information I asked for that’s not included in the report, Coun. Linda Mosher. said.
There’s all these questions I have which aren’t answered in the report and … we haven’t even determined that the system is broken yet.” Coun. Russell Walker commented.
The report examines how things are done in other jurisdictions across Canada, but makes no specific recommendations for Halifax.
Coincidentally, the province made a call Monday for public input on electoral changes – including campaign financing – across Nova Scotia.
Municipal affairs minister Zach Churchill told Metro on Monday afternoon he realizes Halifax is a “unique municipal unit,” and he’s up for the conversation.
“Generally speaking, consistency is a good thing,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean we’re going to shut the door on any needs HRM has in this.”
