NDP uses story to drum up donations from supporters,
Opposition cites Liberal fundraising as way to spur its own supporters to donate
As the embattled Liberals scramble to revamp Ontario’s lax political fundraising rules, the opposition New Democratic Party has pounced on the controversy to raise money.
After the Star’s Martin Regg Cohn revealed Tuesday that cabinet ministers have secret targets of up to $500,000 apiece that they are expected to bring into Liberal coffers each year, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced reforms are finally coming this fall.
“There will be some changes in place before the next election (in 2018),” said Wynne.
While the Progressive Conservatives have long urged revamping a system that penalizes them more than the other two major parties — due to unions’ clout in bankrolling political advertising — the NDP has been less vocal.
In an email appeal, NDP provincial secretary Karla Webber-Gallagher implores supporters to pony up as the Liberals gathered Wednesday for their annual Heritage Dinner.
“Did you see the cover of the Toronto Star this morning? The front page story is about Kathleen Wynne’s dinner tomorrow night that is expected to rake in $3 million. That’s a lot of money!” wrote Webber-Gallagher.
“Let’s be honest, all political parties need to raise money . . . but when it comes to attracting huge donations from corporations and lobbyists, the Liberals are in a league of their own,” she continued.
“That’s how they out-raised us 2 to1 last year, and will out-raise again unless we turn the tide. With many of us giving what we can, we will show the Liberals that grassroots support can challenge a handful of political insiders.”
Webber-Gallagher asked backers to “contribute just $5 before Thurs- day’s deadline to show the Liberals what kind of grassroots movement they’re up against.
“Three million is a lot of money, but we can fight back with hundreds of donations from supporters like you.”
At the same time as an opposition party was shaking the trees for cash, Wynne’s ministers were huddled at Queen’s Park for their first cabinet meeting since the Star’s revelations.
Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli, who acknowledged he brings in about $300,000 annually to the Liberal party, insisted there is no tension among cabinet members regardless of their specific “allotment.”
“I’m not aware of any wedge. We’re very collegial. We’re on the same team and we do the best we can in all of our responsibilities,” Chiarelli said Wednesday.
“I’m not aware of any minister who hasn’t met their allotment. I don’t know to what extent they may have met or exceeded their allotment,” he said.
Finance Minister Charles Sousa, whose annual tally for the Liberals is about $500,000, emphasized that donors have no sway over government policy.
“My priority is to ensure that we put policy forward that matters to the people of Ontario,” said Sousa.
“I don’t worry about fundraising, I worry more about making sure that we put forward things that matter in terms of government policy and direction,” he said.
On Tuesday, Wynne promised “significant reforms” would be introduced before the end of the year.
“The government will bring forward a plan in the fall and that will include new rules on third-party advertising . . . it will also include transitioning away from corporate and union donations, (and) lowering the annual donation limit,” the premier said, in reference to the existing $9,975 donor cap that’s routinely exceeded due to loopholes.
Corporations, unions and individuals can contribute exponentially more than their yearly cap by giving additional cash during byelections and by funding candidates during party leadership campaigns, among other things.
“We need to change those rules as the social mores change and as the expectations of the public change,” she said.