Reform political financing rules

Alberta’s campaign financing laws are archaic and undemocratic in comparison with other jurisdictions, and the rules for party processes, including leadership and local candidate nominations, operate in the virtual absence of public rules to ensure democracy and the public interest. The need for comprehensive reform is compelling, and the approaches used in other provinces and countries provide clear models for change.

The Problems:

Alberta’s election financing laws are characterized by an absence of limits on campaign spending and inadequate limitations on the size and source of political contributions. The absence of such essential rules means that money can have an inordinate and unfair influence, and political equality and democracy are undermined.

The last Progressive Conservative leadership contest provided a graphic illustration of the absence of any effective rules governing political parties in regard to how money was raised and from whom, and how much was spent and on what. The result of these failings is to allow party processes to operate in secret, without regard for the need to ensure democratic methods and the protection of the public interest.

There are many other problems with undemocratic aspects of our electoral and political party systems that must be part of a more comprehensive approach, but reforming the areas of electoral and party financing would make an excellent beginning.

The Changes Needed:

Many jurisdictions in Canada and other countries are far ahead of Alberta in the area of democratic reform in electoral and party financing, so there is an abundance of choices for improvement. The following proposals would be important elements of a comprehensive reform approach:

• Impose stricter limits on the size of political contributions
• Forbid political contributions by corporations, unions and associations
• Require more effective disclosure of donors
• Set limitations on local and provincial campaign expenditures
• Provide fair public funding of political parties
• Enact equally comprehensive public rules governing fundraising, expenditure and disclosure for campaigns for the leadership of a party or nomination to be a candidate in a provincial election

Comments from the PIA Democracy Forums:

• Campaign finance reform is essential, including at the municipal level
• Spending limits are essential in order to promote fairness
• Find ways to provide equal time/space in the media for candidates
• Stop the “constant campaigning” by government using public funding
• We need more attention paid to the enormous distortions in democracy resulting from the undue power of wealthy/corporate interests
• Ensure that leadership campaign funding is absolutely open and transparent

PIA advocates six steps to promote democratic renewal in Alberta:

1. Institute comprehensive reform of electoral and political party financing
2. Abolish the Public Affairs Bureau and replace it with a system that is more open and non-partisan
3. Initiate a Citizens' Assembly to make recommendations on proportional representation
4. Strengthen the role of the Legislature and MLAs by further increasing the power of and support for legislative committees and officers
5. Create a high-profile Commission on Gender and Democracy to develop a comprehensive approach to achieving gender equity in our political system
6. Require a more open, thorough and effective approach to public consultation on issues of public policy development

Stay Informed and get involved:

How Alberta Compares on Money and Politics - Research document on electoral financing reform

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