Flaherty says the federal budget will go into deficit after accounting for the planned economic stimulus spending agreed by the G-20 nations.

We cannot ask Canadians to tighten their belts during tougher times without looking in the mirror. Canadians have a right to look to government as an example. We have a responsibility to show restraint and respect for their money. Canadian tax dollars are precious … Today, our Government is eliminating the $1.75-per-vote taxpayer subsidy for politicians and their parties, effective April 1, 2009.

- Finance Minister Jim Flaherty

The change comes after the NDP and Conservatives bowed to public pressure and withdrew their threats to boycott the debates if May attends. The Conservatives, NDP and Bloc argue the Green Party should be excluded from debates because Elizabeth May has publicly endorsed Stéphane Dion and other Liberal candidates in the election.

Stéphane Dion has supported including May in the debates since the two parties formed an alliance last year.

The media consortium implied one or more political parties threatened to boycott the debates if the Green Party were included.

The Conservatives, NDP and Bloc all oppose including the Green Party in the debates, saying Elizabeth May is a Liberal proxy because she has endorsed Stéphane Dion and other Liberal candidates in the election.

The Liberal Party has advocated in favour of including the Green Party since the two parties formed an alliance last year.

May argues the Green Party has earned the right to be included in the debates now that Blair Wilson, a sitting Member of Parliament, has crossed the floor and joined the party.

]]> http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/09/02/green-party-leaders-debate/feed/ 16 CanuckPolitics http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/03/25/political-party-donations-2007/ http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/03/25/political-party-donations-2007/#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:44:29 +0000 CanuckPolitics http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/03/25/political-party-donations-2007/ ]]> The Conservative Party raised more money in 2007 than all the other political parties combined, according to data released by Elections Canada. The Conservatives earned 62% of the fundraising dollars, while the Liberal Party raised 18%.

For the first time, more people donated money to the NDP than to the Liberal Party.

Contributions to Political Parties
(2007, Elections Canada)

The government’s Accountability Act came into effect on January 1, 2007 and imposed new limits on political donations that forbids political donations from corporations, trade unions, associations and other groups.

Now only individual Canadians to contribute, and only up to a limit of $1100 per person, per calendar year to each registered political party.

The new fund raising rules have proven to be a challenge for the Liberal Party whose finances heavily relied on large donations from corporations, trade unions and special interest groups.

Harper pressed for an inclusive approach that would allow nations currently without Kyoto targets, who together produce 70% of the world’s greenhouse gases, to participate in an international agreement in the post-Kyoto round of negotiations.

Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, NDP leader Jack Layton, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, environmentalist David Suzuki continue their opposition to the government’s plan, saying Canada must meet its Kyoto targets beginning 2008.

Leaders at the G-8 agreed for the first time to work toward absolute cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.

The government’s Accountability Act was a key Conservative promise in the last election campaign. The Act:

• Limits contributions to Canadian citizens only; corporations, trade unions, associations and other groups can no longer contribute;
• Limits contributions to $1100 per person, per calendar year to each registered political party, candidate or leadership candidate;
• Forbids cash contributions over $20;
• Forbids political contribution with money, property or services that were given to the contributor for that purpose;

The Act was designed to prevent the kind of corruption and abuse seen in the Liberal sponsorship scandal, and to refocus party financing away from contributions from corporations, unions, special interests and wealthy individuals.

The new rules have highlighted stark differences in the ability of Canada’s political parties to secure broad-based financial support from many contributors making donations under $1100.

Contributions to Political Parties (Q1 2007, Elections Canada)

The Liberal Party has long based its fundraising on large donations from corporations, unions, special interest groups, and a small number of wealthy individuals. The loss of these funding sources has dramatically reduced contributions to the party.

By contrast, political contributions show broad-based support for the Conservative Party, receiving 10 times the donations from 10 times as many contributors as the Liberal Party.

Similarly, the NDP received donations from 3 times as many contributors as the Liberals.

Dion supports including May in the televised leaders debate, and pledges to fight for her in Central Nova during the next election.

I will fight for 307 Liberals, plus Elizabeth May.
- Stéphane Dion

May says she supports Dion for Prime Minister in order to prevent Harper from being re-elected. She compares Stephen Harper to George Bush,vowing to avoid a scenario such as the last US Presidential election when Ralph Nader split the vote and helped re-elect George Bush.

NPD leader Jack Layton objects to the alliance, saying it is anti-democratic, while Conservative Monty Solberg says its a sign of weak leadership.

May advocates an activist role for the Environment Commissioner, saying the role should be one of political advocacy rather than a ‘value for money’ approach favoured by the Auditor General.

May also makes a case for including her in the national televised debate.