Elections changes 'baby steps' in the right direction, says Ajax mayor
Thursday October 29th, 2009
By Jennifer Stone
(newsdurhamregion.com) |
A number of rules to tighten up financing situation
DURHAM -- Proposed municipal election reform announced by the Province this week is “baby steps in the right direction,” but still doesn't deal with the real
“cancer on our municipal election process” -- developer and union campaign contributions, says Ajax Mayor Steve Parish.
In fact, neither he nor a York University professor who has long argued the need to ban corporate, developer and union contributions feel the Provincial proposal goes far enough.
“It's a start,” Professor Robert MacDermid, a longtime critic of allowing such contributions to election campaigns. “I think there's still work to be done
... We need to do what the federal politicians have done and ban those contribution sources.”
Proposed changes include moving election day up by two weeks to the fourth Monday in October; barring councillors from using campaign fundraising surpluses
in future elections; requiring councils to appoint compliance and audit committees to oversee any public complaints about campaign violations; raising penalties for
violating the Elections Act to $25,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations and trade unions; requiring electronic filing with election expense records having
to be posted online; increasing the identification requirements for voters; and closing loopholes in fundraising rules that allow for almost unbridled spending if it's in the name of fundraising.
That's an issue, Mr. MacDermid said, pointing to one Ontario municipal politician who spent more than twice on fundraisers than what he reported he raised for his campaign.
“That's just using other people's money to host other people at an event where they're told how great the candidate is,” he said.
But, the major issue remains the ability of developers and trade unions to contribute to campaigns. The proposed changes do limit total donations from any single
source to $5,000 in any municipality. It leaves the maximum donation from any source to any one candidate at $750.
“We don't want to even have the perception that one company can, in essence, go off and purchase favour with the whole council,” Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson
said. “It forces those companies and individuals to think long and hard about who they want to give the money, as opposed to spreading it out to anyone and everyone.”
But that's not necessarily so, Mayor Parish said, noting the smaller size of many Durham and other GTA councils. In places like Ajax and Clarington, where there are only seven
councillors, developers can still contribute the maximum to most of the front-runners, even under the new rules.
“In the 905, it really is a very limited reform,” Mr. Parish said. In terms of developer contributions, “there is too much of it in the system and it's having a negative impact on
how we plan municipalities.”
Mr. MacDermid agrees.
“It really isn't a limit at all because it means that a single contributor could give $750 to six candidates, which would be a majority on most councils outside Toronto,” he
said.
“More importantly, it doesn't stop them from giving $5,000 in 10 municipalities or more.”
In so doing, it allows developers to potentially "ensure there are candidates favourable to development interests on council," he said.
In February, Pickering Ward 3 City Councillor David Pickles introduced a motion requesting the Province to undertake a review of the Municipal
Elections Act to ensure rules regarding election expenses and financing are appropriate and transparent across all municipalities. It
was passed unanimously by council and forwarded to the Province.
He was glad to hear that eight months later, something was done about it.
“I'm pleased,” he said after hearing the news. “I think a number of things they're looking at are
going to help level the playing field.”
Oshawa Mayor John Gray said he supports most of the proposed reform, but worries about the earlier date, if the Province doesn't also move up the date of
swearing in ceremonies for councils, which traditionally have taken place the first week of December, not long after the November election.
On many points, moving the election date to late October is positive, he said, pointing to the likelihood of better weather for voting and the possibility local snowbirds might still be at home.
But, unless the swearing in date is moved up accordingly, “the lame duck phase (for councils) is extended,” Mayor Gray said. “That means that for an extended period
of time, there's really no ability to make simple decisions that need council approval.”
Overall, the proposed reforms are “a start,” Mr. MacDermid said.
-- with files from the Torstar network
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