Jason Mann and Johan Boyden
Communist Party of Canada
Prince George Collective
Stopping contributions to political parties by unions and big business -- this is the goal of recently proposed changes to the Canadian elections act. And what a laudable project! As its proponents tout, the legislation would limit the role of large organizations in federal politics, brining the influence both rich corporations and powerful unions in line with that of ordinary people.
The proposal is a Liberal Party initiative and part of Jean Chreieten's so-call legacy fund. Chrentien isn't, however, well known for brilliant policy initiatives.
Maybe these new election rules deserve some scrutiny.
The idea is that small political parties will benefit from a new electoral environment. No longer will they need the support of CANFOR or the CAW to get elected; instead a level playing field will be created whereby grass roots political movements will have a voice.
Now this idea seems wonderful, but its also drafted the same party that, over the course of the last ten years, have gutted social programms while giving tax breaks to the likes of Chrysler Canada and Bombardier. A rather anomalous move to see the Liberals attempting to limit corporate power.
The loophole comes with individual donations. If, for example, Overwaitea wanted to give ten million dollars to the Liberal Party the donation would not be permitted.
But if Overwaitea were to give its owner, Jimmy Paterson, ten million dollars, he could then he were to pass on the ten million to the Liberals, everything would be fine.
So much for limiting corporate influence.
The policy is really about restricting the influence of the labour movement. Unions, unlike Overwaitea, do not have owners. . Unions cannot make a single political donation by diverting funds to their members as big business can to its owners.
What does this all mean? In an attempt to bring together "minority" parties of the Left and Right, the Liberals have clamped down on the organized voice of the proletariat, Unions. The proposed policy would keep minority parties of the Left in their current condition; underrepresented and ignored by the media. How could the NDP or CPC grow with their main source of funds limited against the Liberals and the Canadian Alliance with unlimited funds? In the present Canadian political system, which is a capitalist political system, democracy is all but a luxury of the wealthy.
So is this a brilliant policy from the benevolent retiring leader? No, simply more deception from Canada's bourgeoisie.