Harper Government is Committed to Closing Political Financing Loophole
(firmenpresse) - OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 11/02/11 -- The Hon. Tim Uppal, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), along with Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbiniere-Chutes-de-la-Chaudiere, today reaffirmed the Harper Government's longstanding commitment to strengthening Canada's democratic institutions by re-introducing the Political Loans Accountability Act.
"The current rules on political loans do not meet the high standards of accountability, integrity, and transparency that Canadians expect in their political process," said Minister of State Uppal. "The Political Loans Accountability Act builds on our flagship Federal Accountability Act by closing a loophole allowing corporations and unions to make political loans."
The proposed changes to the loans regime are fourfold:
Moreover, the Political Loans Accountability Act would alter the contribution limits for leadership contestants from a per-event basis to a per-calendar year basis.
The bill is consistent with a recommendation from the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. It reflects a legal approach to political loans already in place in several provinces such as Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador.
"We are bringing greater integrity, accountability, transparency to the political process with the Political Loans Accountability Act," said MP Gourde. "Everyday Canadians are expected to pay back loans under strict rules, and the same should apply to politicians."
BACKGROUNDER
Political Loans Accountability Act
Canada's Government is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and accountability in political financing. However, the current rules for loans do not create uniform standards of transparency, and loans could be used to circumvent contribution limits and restrictions on the source of contributions. The new loans provisions, introduced today, create more transparent accountability requirements and stringent restrictions on the use of loans by political entities and will apply to all political entities governed by the Canada Elections Act.
The current rules on loans are a series of inconsistent and incomplete measures adopted over time and are no longer in keeping with the broader legal framework for political financing or the higher expectations of Canadians. Enforcement of the rules is difficult since the information required to ensure compliance (e.g., the interest rate at which a loan is made) is not always disclosed.
A major concern is that loans could be used to circumvent both the legal contribution limits and the restrictions on the source of contributions. The rules governing political contributions were strengthened through the Federal Accountability Act, which reduced the maximum annual contribution by individuals to political entities to $1,100 for 2011, and prohibited unions and corporations from making political contributions. Since loans are not subject to either of these restrictions, there is no limit on the amount of loans any person or entity can make. Loans can therefore be used to circumvent the contribution limit and in effect can be disguised contributions.
The proposed changes update and strengthen the treatment of loans:
The Political Loans Accountability Act would also alter the contribution limits for leadership contestants from a per-event basis to a per-calendar year basis, consistent with the contribution limits for other political entities.
The overall goal of these measures is to reduce the potential for undue influence of wealthy interests in the political process, and thereby ensure greater accountability to citizens and enhanced confidence amongst Canadians in the integrity of their political institutions.
In January 2007 the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada completed a comprehensive review of political loans. In his report to Parliament he concluded that "loans granted by lenders-who are not in the business of lending, who lend money at non-commercial rates, with terms that are not available to others, or in cases where there is little prospect of reimbursement-may be perceived as a means to influence the political entity to which the funds are provided."
The Chief Electoral Officer recommended that Parliament review the rules on loans to impose additional controls, make loans more transparent, and establish consistency in the treatment of loans for all classes of political entities. The amendments proposed by the Government adopt those recommendations.
The election laws in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador currently place some restrictions on the source or amount of loans to political entities.
The Political Loans Accountability Act would come into force six months after the day on which it receives royal assent, unless the Chief Electoral Officer publishes a notice in the Canada Gazette that Elections Canada is able to implement the changes at an earlier date. The Act would not apply to loans entered into before it comes into force.
The changes made to political financing through the Federal Accountability Act in December 2006 are important components of the Government's record of achievement. As part of strengthening accountability across government, the Federal Accountability Act introduced changes to political financing including new limits on contributions to political entities from individuals, a ban on contributions from unions and corporations, and tightened rules on gifts and trust funds.
Contacts:
Kate Davis
Office of the Minister of State for Democratic Reform
(613) 943-1835
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Datum: 02.11.2011 - 15:24 Uhr
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News-ID 1052823
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