Most political "wars" are a tempest in a teapot. Removing all party federal funding is not. In the short term, it helps the Conservatives, but in the long term it hurts all parties and all Canadians. Donation and spending caps are justified, perhaps, by government funding of political parties.
This funding, based on popular votes, has the effect of making political organizing somewhat less wealth-driven. But keeping the caps and removing the funding makes political organizing almost impossible. I am neither free to spend my money as I wish, nor able to get government money to allow political organizing. Everyone, rich and poor, is disenfranchised.
If funding is withdrawn, the spending caps must go, too. Keeping the caps and withdrawing the funding stifles Canadian politics.
James Morton, Thornhill federal Liberal riding president, Toronto.
1 comment:
Funding based on popular vote is wrong. I am asked as a citizen to do an important duty, vote. That act should not lead to profitting for political parties.
It is also unfair to independant candidates who are already at a huge disadvantage.Most people would like to see a lot more independants elected to parliament.
Small parties and any potential new parties are also punished by this system.They must get 2% to get any funding.Does there voice not count? Should they be considered just as a nuisance?
I think that the spending caps should be increased but not elimanated.You are free to spend your own money but just not 10's of thousands that could swamp the relevence of small "average Joe" donators. Besides there is still a generous tax break anyways.It is still largely publicly funded.
As far as the disenfranchised remark goes, we are already there.Continuing funding based on votes is adding cynicism not the other way around.
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