Corporate donations to municipal election campaigns

The issue of corporate donations to candidates campaigning for office at municipal and provincial levels has been a concern of mine for a long time. At the federal level Elections Canada took steps to eliminate corporate donation some time ago. Why are the two lower levels of government not introducing similar legislation?

If the province introduced income tax credits at the municipal level, similar to those that already exist at federal and provincial levels, more people would consider donating to municipal candidates’ campaigns. This in turn might result in renewed levels of interest in municipal elections and help increase the number of voters who turn out.

It was disappointing, though not surprising, to learn that Ottawa City councillors have turned down yet another opportunity to speak to the provincial government on this issue (Bid to ban corporate, union donations fails, Patrick Dare, Ottawa Citizen, November 24, 2009). A motion by Councillor Alex Cullen to ask the province to prohibit such donations was defeated by a vote of 4-6 by the audit, budget and finance committee.

Dare’s article notes that only five councillors out of the 24 on council do not accept corporate donation and union donations. However, at least one member of this group of five receives a substantial amount of donations to his campaign from individual owners, executives and senior staff of corporations, primarily developers. Interestingly, this individual voted in favor of Cullen’s motion.

New municipal election rules that are being considered by the province will put a limit on the maximum value of contributions that any individual, corporation or other organization can make. But this does not prevent a large number of individuals with ties to a particular corporation or organization from donating. This defeats the intent of the proposed legislation.

It’s time for this issue to be cleared up once and for all. No matter how much councillors take offence and protest that their votes cannot be bought when challenged on this issue, the perception will always be there. We just need to remove the temptation.