Federal Liberals' Fundraising Auction of Cash for Access
by Democracy Watch
Today, Democracy Watch called on the federal Commissioner of Canada Elections and Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner to order the Liberal Party of Canada (and/or its MPs or riding associations) to return any money received from any corporation or other organization as a result of the Party's auction February 13th of golfing with MP Paul Martin, attending a hockey game with MP Ken Dryden, and playing tennis with Liberal by-election candidate Bob Rae and his brother, Power Corporation Vice-President John Rae.
The Commissioners should also penalize the Party and MPs for the scheme.
Federal Liberals' Fundraising Auction of Cash for Access to MPs
Violates Canada Elections Act and MPs' Ethics Rules -- Party and MPs
Must Be Penalized
OTTAWA - An official of the Liberal Party has said they believe that payments
made as a result of the auction are legal because the time of the MPs
and the Raes have market value and so payment for their time is not a
"contribution" as defined by the Canada Elections Act and therefore is
unlimited and never has to be disclosed. However, the payments are
going to the Party, not to Mr. Martin, Mr. Dryden and the Raes. As a
result, this fundraising scheme definitely violates the plain meaning,
and of course the spirit, of the prohibition in section 404 of the
Canada Elections Act on donations of money, property or services by
corporations or other organizations to political parties and riding
associations.
The payments cannot go to the Liberal MPs because section 14 of the
Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (MPs
Code) prohibits MPs from accepting any such gift or benefit other than
the compensation they receive as an MP, in particular gifts that could
compromise their integrity. By even participating in such an
access-for-cash scheme, Mr. Martin and Mr. Dryden are violating
principles of the MPs Code that require MPs to uphold the highest
standards, to maintain and enhance public trust and confidence in their
integrity, to avoid real or apparent conflicts of interest, and to act
in a manner that bears the closest public scrutiny.
Mr. Rae is not an MP, but as a by-election candidate he is prohibited
by section 92.2 of the Canada Elections Act from accepting any gift or
benefit that could influence him, and is required to disclose all gifts
worth more than $500 (whether or not he uses them for his by-election
campaign) to Elections Canada.
A huge loophole still exists in the Canada Elections Act that allows
secret, unlimited donations to nomination race and party leadership
candidates, if they don't use what is donated for their campaign.
"By offering the highest bidder access to Paul Martin, Ken Dryden and
Bob Rae for cash, including corporate bidders, the Liberal Party and
their MPs are participating in a scheme that violates the Canada
Elections Act and ethics rules for MPs," said Duff Conacher,
Coordinator of Democracy Watch and Chairperson of the nation-wide Money
in Politics Coalition.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Duff Conacher, Coordinator of Democracy Watch
Tel: (613) 241-5179
This news release with links to related documents can be viewed at:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsFeb1508.html
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 15, 2008
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