In Ottawa,
…[a] bill to reform political financing easily passed the [federal] House of Commons … today.
Despite earlier grumbling by some Liberal MPs, they stood by the government as the bill passed 172-62, backed by the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois.
Only the Alliance and the Tories opposed the bill, which limits corporate and union donations to political parties to $1,000 and allows them at the riding association level only, not to federal parties directly.
The bill also limits donations from individuals to $5,000.
The bulk of party financing will be provided by taxpayers through the federal government on a $1.75-per-vote basis: the more votes, the more money.
After that there’s Royal Assent, and then it’s law.
Interesting political week up here in Canadia.
Andy
June 12, 2003, 7:16am
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Cynics might suggest that the voters ultimately pay whatever way the parties are funded, but at least you can vote with your feet if you don’t like the donations from a particular business…
