TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on Premier Wynne to commit that any campaign financing reforms introduced in the fall will not include taxpayer subsidies to political parties.
Premier Wynne has committed to reforming Ontario election financing
Former federal model for campaign financing included a per vote taxpayer subsidy, which began when corporate and union donations were phased out
Amid revelations that Liberal cabinet ministers have $500,000 fundraising targets, Premier Wynne committed that election financing reforms would see parties “transitioning away from corporate and union donations.” It is unclear what the reforms will include.
“We’ve seen this game play out before and it usually ends in taxpayers giving a subsidy to political parties,” said CTF Ontario Director, Christine Van Geyn.
Taxpayer subsidies to political parties only recently ended at the federal level. In 2004, the federal government eliminated corporate and union donations, and introduced a per-vote subsidy to political parties. Over 11 years, over $266 million in taxpayer money was paid to federal political parties. The subsidy was finally phased out in April 2015.
“The idea of taxpayer money paying for political attack ads and partisan flyers is repugnant,” continued Van Geyn. “Whatever Wynne’s reforms include, the political financing system must continue to be voluntary. If Wynne no longer wants to be held politically accountable for accepting corporate and union donations, she can’t expect the public to be forced to hand over their hard earned money to make up the difference.”
