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Set out below is a letter-to-the-editor by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher which was published in the August 27, 2010 issue of the Montreal Gazette and National Post and also on Canada.com Whether or not former Quebec justice minister Marc Bellemare's allegations are true that a fundraiser for the provincial Liberal Party had influence over the appointment of judges, the situation and other recent Quebec ethics scandals point to the need for key democratic reforms. The annual individual donation limit should be lowered to $500; disclosure of more details about donors and fundraisers and gifts should be required, and; per-vote public funding for parties and candidates should be increased. Politicians, their staff and decision-making public officials in the provincial and municipal governments should be required to disclose the identity of everyone who lobbies them in an organized way. And everyone who participates in organized lobbying should be prohibited from helping in any significant way with fundraising and the campaigns of candidates and parties. Finally, the lobbying, ethics and elections commissioners must be required to conduct random audits a few times each year to ensure these rules are being followed by everyone. If these changes are made, the ability of anyone to have undue influence over any Quebec politician or public official will be greatly reduced. NOTE: See details below Sincerely, Duff Conacher, Coordinator Democracy Watch. DETAILS OF CHANGES NEEDED TO QUEBEC LAWS TO PREVENT CORRUPTION The Quebec provincial level individual donation limit should be cut from $3,000 down to $500 annually (a level an average voter can afford) to reduce the ability of any single fundraiser to raise a significant amount for any party. For municipal elections, only individuals should be allowed to donate and only during the municipal campaign period, and the limit should also be $500. Donors should be required to disclose the identity of their employer and other significant associations (boards etc.), and the fundraiser who solicited their donation, to help ensure illegal donations are not funneled through them from corporations, unions etc. The annual per-vote public funding for parties should be increased to cover the loss from individual donations, and public funding should also be provided to candidates who gather significant support (ie. through signatures on a petition). Politicians, their staff and decision-making public officials in the provincial and municipal governments should be required to disclose the identity of everyone who communicates with them, directly or indirectly,about their decisions in an organized way. Only informal letters, emails and calls from voters would not have to be disclosed. However, if the letters were sent as part of an organized letter-writing campaign, then general information about the campaign (who backs it, its goals etc.) would have to be disclosed. And everyone who participates in organized lobbying should be prohibited from helping in any significant way with fundraising and the campaigns of candidates and parties, as at the federal level and in Ontario -- for some details, click here. Finally, the lobbying, ethics and elections commissioners who enforce these rules must be required to conduct random audits a few times each year to ensure everyone is following the rules. Currently in Quebec, and at the federal level and in other provinces, the lack of required random audits, along with similar loophole-filled and weak rules, are the main reason for the many cases of violations of the rules. SOURCE: Democracy Watch |