Recently the Ontario government announced the intention to bring in legislation to limit and restrict the nature and amount of donations allowed for provincial electoral parties.
The premier stated she wanted to reform the system under which large donations could be made by individuals and organizations, and to eliminate fundraising dinners and meetings where thousands of dollars could be "donated" in exchange for getting time with cabinet ministers.
Under the existing law, individuals can contribute almost $10,000 in an election year and there is no limit on organizations. The proposed law will limit individuals to $7,750 in an election year and organizations (such as corporations and unions) will no longer be allowed to donate.
In B.C., there are no limits on donations so long as it is not anonymous (or unregistered). Recently our premier defended the practice of large donations. She stated she did not believe they influenced government decisions as they are (eventually) disclosed and were an important part of running a party.
The B.C. Liberals raised nearly $10 million last year through this method. Mining companies, real estate developers and casino owners are amongst the largest donors to the Liberals.
In response to a complaint registered by an opposition MLA, the privacy commissioner was asked if these kinds of donations were lawful. "Yes," he said. There is no law prohibiting the practice so, yes, it is lawful.
Is it proper? Ask the court of public opinion. Our own MLA, Vicki Huntington, has spoken about the excesses of this practice, as has a task force of the legislature. The next provincial election is next year so you will no doubt hear about this again. Our MLA is an independent in her second term - a record for service in the B.C. legislature. Her financial records are public and can be found at www.vickihuntington.ca.
Looking at the municipal scene, what are the rules for donating? In one word, none.
Organizations can expense the donation as a "cost of business." Individuals get no tax credit so it's a cash donation. Records are kept and disclosed 90 days after the election at www.elections.bc.ca.
The Vancouver Sun reported that upon analyzing the 2010 Metro campaign reports, 4,500 businesses contributed to campaigns, but only about 50 of those donors - developers, construction firms and others - raised one-third of all funds.
I have previously reported on the amounts spent in Delta elections. The election is expensive with a total of more than $300,000 spent in 2014 by all parties and individuals.
This is well above what the governments of Ontario and Canada have talked about in making grants to political parties for election expenses.
What troubles me is the proportion of donations coming from organizations doing business with Delta. As well, the amounts contributed by some organizations at more than $10,000 are, to my mind, excessive.
Why not limit it? It's a B.C. law, and in the land of the "free and no limits," it's not about to happen.
Ian Robertson has been a resident of South Delta for three decades.
