Monday, June 7, 1999

OTTAWA - Today, as the federal government introduced its amendments to federal elections law, Democracy Watch released a list of citizen groups that have signed on in support of the recommendations in its report For the Best Government Money Can't Buy: How to Make Canada's Political Finance System Democratic. The report, which sets out 17 recommendations for cleaning up political finance in Canada, sets the standard, based upon a review of all jurisdictions in North America, by which the federal government's amendments should be judged.

The groups, from five provinces, who have signed on in support of Democracy Watch's proposals are as follows: Medical Reform Group, National Action Committee on the Status of Women, Ontario Public Interest Group-Guelph, Quebec Public Interest Research Group-McGill, Results Canada, Saskatchewan Action Committee on the Status of Women, Sierra Club of Canada, and the Vancouver Island Public Interest Research Group.

"The proposed legislation will not create a democratic system of political finance" said Aaron Freeman, a Director of Democracy Watch and author of Cashing In: Money and Influence in Canadian Politics (to be published in the fall by McClelland & Stewart), "The Liberals have failed to prevent wealthy interests from using money to influence government. The key loopholes remain."

Democracy Watch's report makes the following recommendations, among others:

* Instead of increasing party donation reimbursement rates, as proposed by a parliamentary committee in June 1998, the government should put in place public financing for political parties based upon the actual popular support parties obtain.

* Limits should be set on political donations that are at a level that is affordable for the average Canadian.

* Corporations, unions, and other organizations that do not vote should be prohibited from donating to political parties, candidates and riding associations, as in Quebec.

* Constituency associations should be required to register and disclose all their donors and MPs should be required to disclose all their donors between elections.

* Donor disclosure requirements should include a total of donations made, and enough information to identify every donor, and donations should be disclosed quarterly, as in the U.S. Donations should also be made available on the Internet, as in Ontario.

* Party leadership races, and third-party spending, should also be subject to donation limits and disclosure requirements.

* Government advertising should be restricted leading up to and during elections, and a right to complain about false political advertising should be enacted.