Chretien’s ‘big bang’ on money in politics: A primer on PM’s new political finances legislation
On Jan. 28, 2003, the federal government introduced a number of notable changes in the rules governing the financing of political parties, candidates, and other political entities including leadership races by means of many amendments to the Canada Elections Act and Income Tax Act. The last set of changes were made in September, 2000, but […]
Banning corporate donations a big mistake
Regarding “Corporate ban a mistake: Grit MP Discepola,” (The Hill Times, Jan. 27). Quebec Liberal MP Nick Discepola is right. Banning corporate and union donations to political parties and/or candidates would be a mistake. It would make political party funding dependent on the government of the day, a very bad idea. And it would limit […]
Political finance bill to hurt ‘maverick’ MPs
The Prime Minister’s sweeping legislation to reform political campaign financing could place “maverick” or unpopular MPs at a serious disadvantage, backbench Liberals cautioned last week. The proposed legislation would give registered parties an annual subsidy equal to $1.50 per vote obtained in the previous general election, provided that they obtain either two per cent of […]
Campaign finance reform bill will alienate West
Regarding “Corporate ban a mistake: Grit MP Discepola,” (The Hill Times, Jan. 27). Prime Minister Jean Chretien is a one-man wrecking ball of Confederation. One cannot but cheer him on. The Liberal Party and central Canada’s hegemony will of course be assured by a public funding formula for political financing. Like the equalization payments formula, […]
We can contribute after war
Our fence-straddling about whether to join an attack on Iraq has become, not merely clumsy and more than a bit cowardly, as indeed it’s always been, but — much more seriously — irrelevant. Not irrelevant for the obvious reason that no one would notice, except politically, whether or not our troops were tagging along for […]
Campaign Finance Bill
Government House Leader Don Boudria introduced the long-awaited Campaign Finance Bill last week (Jan. 29) in the House of Commons and some of the top PMO players were out spinning the merits of the bill. Eddie Goldenberg , the PM’s chief policy adviser, briefed reporters in a “lock-up” during Question Period before the bill was […]
A message to First Ministers: From Elston
As Canada’s provincial and territorial premiers deliberate on the future of our healthcare system, we remind them that new medicines are part of the solution and ask for their assurances that Canadians will have access to the best medicines that will save or improve their lives. New medicines are valuable: their discovery means Canadians often […]
Budget notes…
Budget notes… All eyes seem to be looking to Feb. 25 — the traditional “last Tuesday in February” — for Finance Minister John Manley’s first budget. Some of Mr. Manley’s thunder will likely be stolen this week, however. If he is true to form, Mr. Chretien will stamp his name all over the healthcare issue […]
House takes fight to Supreme Court
The House will fight to prevent Commons’ employees from taking discrimination complaints to the Canadian Human Rights Commission and has decided to bring the battle all the way to the Supreme Court. Canadian Alliance MP John Reynolds (West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast, B.C.), a spokesperson for the Commons Board of Internal Economy which represents the House on […]
House still has to deal with redistribution of ridings: This issue has yet to be seriously debated in House of Commons
In the March 18, 2002, issue of The Hill Times you published an article on the proposed redistribution of House of Commons seats that will see the federal Parliament grow from 301 to 308 seats. This article “House of Commons to jump from 301 to 308 seats after 2004,” dealt with some of the major […]
