The ban on union and corporate donations to political parties announced Monday is a huge step forward in B.C.’s political culture.
Public disgust at “big money” and its insidious attempts to influence public policy through paid access to decision makers likely reached a peak in recent years, when “pay to play” private fundraisers became the norm.
While the Liberals pointed out this week that they themselves had already tried to introduce similar legislation, they conveniently forgot that they did so only when their own government was teetering on the precipice of defeat. When they were actually in a position to make changes, they declined to do so.
Cutting spending limits and restricting individual donations are massive improvements on the anything goes scenario that has prevailed forever in B.C. politics. Cosy cash-for-access events will also be greatly curtailed and subject to scrutiny.
The bill is less than perfect. That taxpayers will now be on the hook as parties wean themselves off all that intoxicating cash was a shocker. Enforcement remains a key issue needing attention. Elections B.C. has a poor track record of being able to follow up even the weak regulations currently in place. Greater safeguards are needed to prevent the obvious end runs around the rules.
Another pressing need is for the province to quickly translate similar election finance legislation to the municipal level. Often considered the “farm team” for senior levels of government, municipal government shouldn’t be the last holdout when it comes to sanity in politics.
We hope to see new rules in place there before the next municipal elections, one year from now.
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