Wynne hits reset on campaign financing
THE SPECTATOR’S VIEW
It’s not often you see all three provincial political parties agreeing on a government motion — unanimously. That’s what happened last Thursday when all parties voted in favour of sweeping campaign finance reforms. They will clamp down on cash-for-access fundraising, impose tighter caps on individual contributions, end corporate and union donations and put restrictions on third-party advertisers.
The final version of the bill goes one big step further by prohibiting the premier, cabinet ministers, all MPPs, candidates, premier’s staff and ministerial chiefs-of-staff from attending fundraising events. Impressive, yes? But hang on. First off, all three parties voted for the changes because had any not, they would have been vilified in the legislature and media for trying to preserve some aspect of the status quo, which has led to Ontario being the Wild West of political fundraising — as in, pretty much anything goes. And make no mistake, all three parties wallow in fundraising techniques the new law will disallow, which is why all three are jamming in cash-for-access events and other forms of soon-to-be prohibited fundraising between now and the end of the month. (The new law kicks in Jan. 1.)
Still, let’s not be churlish. These changes, most of them at any rate, are long overdue. Corporate and union donations have been verboten in federal politics for years, and it’s past time the same policy ruled Ontario. Cash-for-access (where you pay big bucks to dine and selfie with the premier or other bigwigs) stinks of ethical misbehaviour.
All in all, these changes are welcome and bring Ontario in line with other more accountable jurisdictions in Canada. So good on the government and opposition parties. But let’s not forget the loopholes.
As noted by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath: “The law bans cabinet ministers, MPPs from attending those fundraisers, but doesn’t stop them picking up the phone and having the exact same conversation.” PC Leader Patrick Brown points out another flaw. His party wanted to prohibit any owner or employee of a company doing business with the government from making donations. But that sensible suggestion was overruled by the Liberal majority on the subcommittee drafting the legislation. Still, even Brown acknowledged that the new law is a “positive step” overall.
So is there a downside? Depending on who you talk to, the reforms might actually go too far. Is it really practical, or enforceable, to prohibit every single MPP, staffer or candidate from attending fundraisers?
And what about money overall? This is going to radically change the campaign financing landscape. Parties will be desperately seeking new sources of funding. Aside from anything else, you might want to prepare your spam filters for a wave of new business.