Fund Raising and Spending of the Conservatives and The Harper Government

The recent ruling by Federal Court of Appeal against the Conservative Party of Canada regarding the charges brought forward by Elections Canada, is an unfortunate blow to the freedom of well funded parties to spend their money as they see fit.

The premise of Elections Canada's charge is that while it is perfectly reasonable for national parties to transfer funds to local ridings, and indeed all parties do this all the time, it is unprecidented that anyone would then transfer the money right back out again, returning it (sometimes within 15 minutes) and now being able to spend the money nationally, but claim it local expense.

We in the Harper Government respect Elections Canada and the courts interpretation of the law, and that is why we will be introducing a bill to change the law. It will make it legal for political parties to spend any money they receive any way they want. We strongly feel that those who have money should be free to spend it as they wish to spread their message to the population. Those without money should find friends who do, so they can spread their message. In a democracy the principal of one dollar one person, one vote is paramount.

In other news, the Harper Government recently opened a laundromat for the use of sitting MP's. The laudromat has been a tremendous success netting $14 millon in its first month of operation. The money raised from this venture will be dedicated the communication initiatives of the Harper Government.