Barry Artiste Op/Ed
Corporations and Wealthy Individuals fronting Politicians to the tune of millions of dollars during election periods are always seen to be looking to Curry Favour with Politicians through Fundraising, Single Donations to a political party in the Millions of Dollars will stop once Parliament Resumes.
That puts failed Liberal Leader Stephane Dion in the Red, Liberal Red Big Time.
It is said he borrowed up to $500,000.00 in the last failed Election Bid for Prime Minister. Now it is time to pay it back.
Once Parliament resumes, there will be no more borrowing, as ethically any potential Politician if elected would be beholden to their Creditor, resulting in questions if the Politician really has Canadians interests at heart or his Financier.
With the Liberal Leadership now in question, potential Liberal Leaders may be far and few between if they are limited to a paltry individual donation of a one time $1,000 per person, corporation or wealthy organization including Unions.
That means Politicians will be forced to mingle with the little folk across the country and attend numerous pancake breakfasts, baby kissing, community events etc. What does that all mean?
It means Politicians will have to give more face time with the voters, including the ones who have complaints o plenty. Gone will be the unseen faces of voter content, because someone saved the Politician the embarrassment of knocking on every door, if they loan or give them $500,000 dollars for their campaign.
Guess it is time for Voters to put their money where their mouth is when the next election comes a calling and politicians are knocking on your door for a few bucks to keep them solvent.
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/Columnists/Weston_Greg/2008/10/29/7246091-sun.html
Thu, October 30, 2008
No cash of titans?
Debt, donation rules make life tough for wannabe Liberal leaders
By GREG WESTON
When the newly re-elected Conservative government recalls Parliament sometime late next month, one of the first orders of business will probably be to kick the leaderless Liberals where it hurts — squarely in the bank account.
A senior government official says Stephen Harper’s administration will move quickly to bar political candidates and parties from accepting loans as a way to dodge electoral financing laws.
The move could leave the already cash-strapped Liberals trying to run their coming leadership race on pennies, hot air and used buttons. Too bad, so sad.
The loophole makes a mockery of everything political financing reforms were supposed to achieve. Current federal law bans political donations from corporations and unions, and limits individual contributions to $1,100 a year.
Instead, the last Liberal leadership contest that crowned Stephane Dion was fuelled by millions of dollars in IOUs, many of them five-figure loans to individual candidates from banks, private corporations and wealthy individuals.
Tags: Canada | NDP | ethics | Parliament | opinion | World | liberal | Conservative | Leadership race | Stephane Dion | Political Donations
