Wynne moves to ban corporate donations

Premier vows to fast-track new rules for fundraising following Star revelations

Legislation reforming Ontario’s lax political fundraising rules is being fast-tracked and will be introduced within the next 60 days, says Premier Kathleen Wynne.

In the wake of revelations in the Toronto Star last week, Wynne announced Monday that the revamp of the regulations will be tabled in the legislature before the house rises for the summer break on June 2.

The premier, who had initially promised changes this fall, said she expedited matters because “this is an important issue.”

“Our government plans on introducing legislation — I have said in the fall — but we’re going to introduce that legislation in the spring,” she said.

Wynne will meet this week with Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath to discuss the reforms and said Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner and others are welcome to contribute.

“It’s pretty clear to me that we need to move to ban corporate and union donations. That . . . is not a question at this point. If we look at what’s happening in other jurisdictions, including at the federal level, that’s something that we are going to do,” the premier said.

“I want to give leaders time to consult with their respective parties so that their feedback and input can be reflected in the legislation that we introduce.” However, Wynne, Brown and Horwath each said their parties would continue to fundraise under the current regime until a new law is in place.

“We all operate in this house under a certain set of rules.

“Those rules have been in place for a number of years and I can only assume that everyone on the other side of the house follows them,” said the premier.

“We’re going to play by the existing rules, but we don’t believe they’re right and we’re going to continue to challenge the government to change them,” said Brown.

“We are going to continue to fundraise and that’s again why I think the transition piece is important as well,” said Horwath, referring to the changeover period between now and the spring 2018 election. The NDP leader added that Wynne should not rush through legislative amendments without adequate consultation.

“I would urge this premier not to act in such a knee-jerk way as she has and be very thoughtful,” she said, adding, “the chief electoral officer should take the lead role and include representatives of academia, civil society, business and labour.”

Wynne’s move to promise spring legislation came just six days after the Star’s Martin Regg Cohn revealed Liberal cabinet ministers have secret annual party fundraising targets of up to $500,000 each.

While the Liberals have been embarrassed numerous times over the years by media reports on their fundraisers — the Star revealed a private September 2013 $100,000 dinner sponsored by Bruce Power that came as the government was shelving Ontario Power Generation’s new $15-billion nuclear reactors — the ministerial “allotments” appear to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

The Star discovered Finance Minister Charles Sousa and Health Minister Eric Hoskins have an annual target of up to $500,000 apiece to raise for the Liberals.

Senior cabinet members such as Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli generate around $300,000 for the Grits, while other ministers collect $250,000 or so.

Wynne said Monday that, along with outlawing corporate and union donations to political parties, the legislation would reduce the amount that individuals can donate.

That would mean lowering the $9,975 annual cap on contributions and end loopholes allowing donors to give much more than that during byelections and party leadership campaigns.

At the same time, the government plans to ban the so-called third-party advertising — usually union-funded attack ads against the Conservatives — that has helped the Liberals win the last four elections.

“In 2007, we introduced third-party advertising rules for the first time and introduced real-time disclosure for political donations, which, as the member will know, other provinces are just catching up with,” said Wynne.

“We know there need to be further changes. I look forward to the input from the opposition.”

“I would urge this premier not to act in such a knee-jerk way as she has.” ANDREA HORWATH ONTARIO NDP LEADER