The Honourable, Ryan Leef
Member of Parliament for Yukon
Letter #2 – June 18, 2011
Dear Ryan,
Congratulations on your decision to sit with the opposition in the House of Commons so you can share ideas. This return to civility will be greatly appreciated by Canadians weary of the bickering of the last six years.
Ryan, the Budget presented on June 6th phases out the Per Vote Subsidy for political parties. I wish to discuss this matter.
The Per Vote Subsidy came into place in 2003 to replace funding from Corporations, Unions and other Associations which were reduced to $1,000 and later banned entirely in 2006. This step was taken to reinforce representational democracy.
On the surface, it seems reasonable to cut this subsidy. Times are hard for tax payers and the Government shouldn’t be wasting our dime on frivolous matters. However, I believe $27 Million is a small price to pay for a stronger democracy.
Sara MacIntyre, press secretary to Mr. Harper was mistaken when she stated to the Hill Times, “Taxpayers should not be forced to fund political parties that they do not even support.” Under the subsidy, each vote puts $2 into the coffers of the chosen party.
In the election, the Conservative Party received 39.6% of the vote but won 54% of the ridings. The Per Vote Subsidy helps give the 60.4% of Canadians a voice. It encourages people to vote knowing that at least their chosen party gets some benefit from their vote. Other stable democracies such as Germany and Sweden have similar practices.
Perhaps we can examine other practices that misspend public money. In 2010, the Conservatives voted against a motion to ban Ten Percenters; only agreeing to comply once the House of Commons Board of Eternal Economy banned the practice. The Ten Percenters cost Canadians over $20 Million from 2008 to 2010 of which the Conservatives were responsible for at least $13.1 Million. To put this in perspective, you might be interested to know that of the top hundred spenders on Ten Percenters in 2008/2009; ten were NDP, four were Bloc, three were Liberals and 83 were Conservatives. This is significant when you consider that the Conservatives held only 42% of the ridings.
After the Ten Percenters were banned, Conservative MP’s, most notably Candice Hoeppner, sent out partisan letters using their publicly financed franking privileges and government stationary. The tax payer funded Action Plan logo was used on Ten Percenters and other Conservative ads. The last round of Stimulus Package ads between January and March 2011 cost the public $26 Million although it wasn’t clear that new applications were still being accepted. Finally, I have no idea how much it cost to change “Canadian Government” to “Harper Government” on government communications.
Do acts of partisan opportunism truly reflect core conservative values?
The end of Per Vote Subsidy is an end to a fair way of funding political parties. The Conservative Party, being in the unique position to off load party advertising costs onto Canadians, is advantaged by this move. Ryan, how can I see this decision as anything else but a partisan tactic? Is there some, as yet unnamed, Conservative plan to replace the Per Vote Subsidy that will reinforce Canadian democracy instead of diminishing it?
As my representative, I encourage you to vote in favour of retaining the Per Vote Subsidy. Furthermore, you might propose a private member’s bill to force all Political Parties to return the money misspent on Ten Percenters between 2008 and 2010 to the public purse. It would demonstrate a commitment to fiscal prudence as well as honourable intent.
Good luck with your first term in office, Ryan. May your time in Ottawa be constructive and may you always walk on the high road.
Respectfully yours,
Linda Leon
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