Public Financing of Political Parties
Preamble
Whereas every resident Canadian citizen is a taxpayer (the HST/GST guarantees it)
And whereas Canadian political parties and all their operatives are financed almost entirely, directly and indirectly, from the public purse
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Green Party of Canada advocates the restoration of the per vote subsidy and an increase from $2 to $4 per year per vote to give every voter an equal voice in the distribution of public funds to political parties.
Background
The Harper government recently phased out the annual per vote subsidy to political parties – the funding mechanism which after 2003 facilitated the rapid growth of the Green Party of Canada. It is instead requiring all political parties to rely more heavily on the political tax credit, a mechanism which bonuses private donations by triggering additional funds –as much as $3 for $1 --from the public purse.
Every Canadian citizen and taxpayer controlled the allocation of the per vote subsidy equally via the ballot box.
Most Canadians have little knowledge and absolutely no control of public
expenditure via the political tax credit.
The per-vote subsidy was a clean, visible, democratic mechanism for financing
political parties. It should be restored and improved.
Code
Proposal Type
Submitter Name
Party Commentary
This policy is consistent with Green Party policy on democracy and government accountability. The Green Party currently does not have a specific and explicit policy on the renewal of the per vote subsidy for federal political parties.
Preamble
Whereas every resident Canadian citizen is a taxpayer (the HST/GST guarantees it)
And whereas Canadian political parties and all their operatives are financed almost entirely, directly and indirectly, from the public purse
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Green Party of Canada advocates the restoration of the per vote subsidy and an increase from $2 to $4 per year per vote to give every voter an equal voice in the distribution of public funds to political parties.
Sponsors
Background
The Harper government recently phased out the annual per vote subsidy to political parties – the funding mechanism which after 2003 facilitated the rapid growth of the Green Party of Canada. It is instead requiring all political parties to rely more heavily on the political tax credit, a mechanism which bonuses private donations by triggering additional funds –as much as $3 for $1 --from the public purse.
Every Canadian citizen and taxpayer controlled the allocation of the per vote subsidy equally via the ballot box.
Most Canadians have little knowledge and absolutely no control of public
expenditure via the political tax credit.
The per-vote subsidy was a clean, visible, democratic mechanism for financing
political parties. It should be restored and improved.
Party Commentary
This policy is consistent with Green Party policy on democracy and government accountability. The Green Party currently does not have a specific and explicit policy on the renewal of the per vote subsidy for federal political parties.