I WOULD HATE TO PLAY POKER WITH STEPHEN HARPER! HE KNOWS THAT THE OPPOSITION CANNOT AFFORD TO FORCE ANOTHER ELECTION. I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD ELIMINATE PUBLIC FUNDING OF POLITICAL PARTIES. IF THEY CANT STAND ON THEIR OWN, FUNDED WITH PRIVATE DONATIONS, THEN THEY DO NOT HAVE A SUFFICIENTLY WORTHWHILE PLATFORM.
THE RECENT US ELECTION SHOWS HOW EASY IT IS TO RAISE FUNDS ON THE INTERNET.

NOW IF WE COULD JUST GET STEPHEN TO PRIVATIZE THE CBC!

Should never have been introduced in the first place , tell me nobody could figure out that the bloc was once again going to take us for a ride once more …who was the Einstein that introduced this plum ? No corporate or union donations and limit the individual to $500……Maybe we could get a government that wasn’t bought !!!!

I don’t recall what the maximun corporate donate used to be, but I am all in favour of eliminating the taxpayer forced contribution and making things the way the were. We need to ensure that graft and other forms of corruption can’t thrive, but I am philosofically totally opposed to funding coming from taxpayers, without them having the choice of who to support

Corporations don’t vote - unions don’t vote. Donations should be from individuals only with a much higher donation limit. I applaud the effort to eliminate taxpayer subsidies.

By all means, increase the donation limits and let the parties ply their wares in the public marketplace of ideas. The result might well be political parties that are more in touch with the issues of importance to Canadians.

I support these cuts to the to the partys. I would also like to see the maximum donation from individuals raised to $3,000.00. No donations from corporations or unions.

As the right to vote is restricted to individuals, I beleive that only individuals should be able to support political parties.
I also believe that unions and corporations should not use members or shareholders money to provide direct support to parties.
However, I believe that it should be the right of all Canadians, individuals, unions, corporations to speak out publicly through media during the election period and at other times and not just the political parties; that the so-called ‘gag law’ be repealed. In doing so, union and corporate spending on this should have a realistic limit of tax-deductibilty.

Another piece of ill advised and backward thinking policy of the Chretien era. Good by political welfare, besides MPs make 155K plus 40K for expenses, why should the public finance political parties. Any sound political party in touch with Canadians should be able to raise funds the way we did before this awful legislation. About time this was repealed !

I agree that the parties should not be getting federal subsidies at all but be required to raise funds from their supporters. The Bloc should definitely not be given taxpayers’ money; in fact, they shouldn’t even be allowed to be a federal party.

Finally, a Canadian political party is moved to do the right thing. No contributions from the public purse. No corporate or union contributions. Allow individuals to make a contribution of up to $2,500.00. Elizabeth, Stephane, Jack and Gilles will be upset. GOOD.

I agree that there should be no public funding of political parties. They must stand on their own. The only way to measure real support of any political party or set of ideas is through private fundraising. If I believe enough in a political party or a politicians ideas I will support them with my financial contributiions. If you are any good people will step up to support you. As long as we continue to have government financial support of political parties it makes it harder for parties to raise private money. Especially from average Canadians who think that they do not need to contribute because the finacial support is provided by the government anyway.

I do not want my tax dollars provided to any political party I would not support.
We should always be concerned about corporate financing of our politics. People vote, not companies. Financial contributions should be how people vote and support the party of their choice. Vote with your money. that counts. If the corporate leaders want to support a party it must be with their own personal after tax money, not the corporations. If people within the corporation want to support a party it must be with their own after tax personal money. Corporations don’t vote and they can never be in a position of power by supplying direct financial support of a political ideology.
We need to remove the financial limits on individual contributions to polital parties.
I also very much agree with John MacLean that we need to privatize the CBC and soooo many other orginizations in this country.

It is a about time this subsidy to political parties was eliminated. Political parties should be supported only by public donations which should have a cap. A maximum of $ 1000 per person an per corporate body and affiliates is adequate. Election spending otherwise rises to the amount raised and borrowed.

Eliminate all public funding of political parties. If they can not sustain themselves, it is not a taxpayer’s problem.

Do you think the Conservative Party can pull this off ? Or , is this just one of those election “promises” that are realy throw aways ?
If individual citizens were the only ones allowed to donate to political parties we could be spared a lot of the wasteful election advertizing , we would be putting our money where our mouth is and we would not be forced to spend our taxed dollars to prop up parties that we do’t agree with .

Mr. Harper may well be the best damn thing that has come along in this country’s political history. He is extremely bright and has more common sense than the rest of them put together. He also knows how to strike when the iron is hot. It is amazing to me how many people who complain continually about what the previous governments have done don’t see that this guy is a leader and this is what this country has needed after the Liberal mess that was here previously for far too long. It will take him years to straighten this place out but he is on the right track in many areas….lets just hope that Canadians, the majority of who are not too bright, will finally realize that he is what a Prime Minister should be…a leader.

A long time coming….welcome….now, remove the gag laws and increase personal donations to $2500.

Let Corporations and Unions continue to donate. How better to identify who’s in who’s pocket than the public record.

WE havesuch an entitlment mentality in this country is that everyone wants to get onto the taxpayers teat. A good place to start saying no is to the political parties. Let them raise their own funds. If a political party has a sound platform and broad appeal it will have no problem raising funds. If they are only representing a small special intrest group they deserve to fail.

What an excellent move. This is the very best sort of pure politics and I approve of it 100%. Bring on the next election and let’s get the country run properly for a change. No Mulroney or Clark red Tories but true blue Conservatives for the first time since God knows when. No worrying about the Liberals or the opposition whining about something that they couldn’t fix themselves.

How long before the fat slug bank clerk McCallum is made to admit that if the Liberals cannot manage their own petty cash, they should not be given the opportunity to comment on the economic management of the country.

And while we are at it, let’s put an end to clapping in the House. Applause is not allowed in the Houses of Parliament in London, and think of how many man hours it wastes. The pathetic sight of Liberals leaping to their feet to applaud some ridiculous point that a five year old would be embarrassed to raise does the institution no favours.

I heartily agree and endorse this move by Stephen Harper. It shows that he continues to understand that he was elected to serve the people of Canada, not they him or his party. Something we have not seen in any other leaders, past and present, for a very long time.

This move also shows that Stephen Harper is the strongest leader to be facing the Economic Crisis with. His integrity, common sense and economic sense is already proving itself on the National and International Stage!

I also feel they could raise the donation level of individuals, as well as once again allow corporate & Union support. However, only to the same maximum level as individuals. We cannot allow corporations or Unions, or individuals for that matter, to ever own or have undue influence on the Prime Minister or governing party.

Yea, I agree that all should be allowed to make donations to the party of their choice, but with some formula to establish max limits for corporations and individuals, and some disclosure provisions, especially for corporations. Give Canadians back that personal and democratic freedom

Brilliant. With one stroke the opposition is backed into a corner. If this plays out the way it should, Dion, Layton, Duceppe and Day will be revealed for the opportunistic welfare bums they really are. Congratulations Mr. Harper. This is a great day for Canada. Bring on an election!

Wonderful news! I have already emailed my support to Harper, Flahrety and my MP.
Goodbye Bloc. Goodbye Green Party.

I resent that my taxdollars go to political parties that I would not support under any circumstances.
If a party is credible and has a platform I can support, I will donate. If they are not credible to the vast majority of the people, then thye should just die a natural death.
In any other country a party like the Bloc would be seen as a bunch of people committing treason. But only in Canada do we not only tolerate them, but actively support them in their quest to leave our country.

Delicious irony! In the United States the Democrats will use the financial crisis as a pretext for growing and expanding the federal government to a size heretofore never known. In Canada, on the other hand, the wily Conservatives are using the same pretext to reduce the size and cost of government by bleeding the tax-and-spend opposition of their tax-funded lifeblood. I hope Harper milks this for all it’s worth. I also hope Pierre Trudeau is spinning in his grave.

The taxpayer subsidy should be abandoned or applied evenly to all registered federal political parties [major or minor]according to the number of actual votes (=support) they got . This would make it a more fair playing field. In that way, if I vote for CHP, they get a dollar or so, and if you vote for Green, they get it. Etc.
Also no getting candidate personal expenses back on top of a subsidy just because you got a certain percent of the vote - that should be covered by donations from supporters only.
As for what went before, I would approve of private corporations and family businesses giving donations. Public corporations should not be using shareholder money to give to parties shareholders may not approve of. Unions do not represent the whole membership either in political matters, and should not be making donations to push the agenda of the leadership over what individual members may wish.
Individuals could have a higher donation limit.
I hope the Government can successfully make deep reforms on this, and so allow taxpayers to direct where their political support dollars go.

God bless Stephen Harper for he has done a most remarkable thing in that he is preventing the citizens of Canada from inadvertently and foolishly contributing to the inevitable destruction of their own country by giving money to the Parti Quebecois-money which that pernicious party cannot or will not raise by their own effort. What other nation on earth would blythly finance its own demise? We are truly a nation of sheep in sheep’s clothing, as Churchill would state.

Good on Stephen–Now- if we could get that pigtrough pension, that ‘they’ set up back in the seventys, back under control, with the automatic severance/steal for whatever reason—-and get rid of the ‘gag & thought’ police.–also Bob Rae—NDP will try anything to get into power! Ron

I agree fully with most of the coments except where the suggestion that we allow individuals to give unlimited amounts to their party. I would question the ability to determine that the donation would, in fact, be that of the individual and not his employer. I would suggest that the maximum individual donation should be in the $1000.00 range.

Utterly FANTASTIC! I was stunned from the beginning when the Liberals brought in this “Welfare for Political Parties”. Now the politicians will have to try to get money from those who support them. This will make elections far more representative of what the people really want.

Congratulations Mr. Harper. Don’t let the threat of another election stop you! This could be your chance for a majority as the voters watch the feeding frenzy of the Liberals trying to save their free lunch.

What a refreshing situation S. HaRPER is proposing. Most of the comments above are similar to what mine would be.

You might also comment on the Bertha Wilson decision to let unions fund their position with union dues. One of worst decisions ever made.

Let Bertha and trudeau rot in pain forever!!

Yes, thhis is the best proposal to come along in a long time. No one should be forced, via their taxes, union dues, or other involuntary sources, to contribute to a party they would not support on their own. Funding of political parties should be by individuals only, not corporations or unions. The other requirement would be full disclosure of the identity of both direct and indirect donors. The individual contribution limit should also at least be raised substantially.

I hope St ephen H keeps up the great work.Canada needs a leader that the Media can’t push around & one who isn’t afraid to pull the plug on the greedy opposition.Monday will show who is interested in the country & who is more interested in saving their own political hide. A.M.Fyfe

I commend the Prime Minister for having the guts to trim a part of tax-payer funding of political parties. I do not think that he went far enough … he should have outlawed all funding of political parties from federal tax revenues.

If two US Senators can raise $US 1,000,000,000 in voluntary campaign donations aspiring to become the President of a job in the USA that pays only$400,000 per year, then it should be entirely possible in Canada to raise over $Cdn 100,000,000 directly from party supporters. That is how political parties should be funded.

Only citizens should be able to support political parties. Not inamimate objects like businesses or unions or lampposts or any kind of interest groups.. Responsible government should be the responsibility of responsible citizens. Those most responsible should be free to put their support where they realize it must go. Others will have the last say with their vote, presumally balancing of the excuse that they can’t ‘afford’ to support parties, which hithertofor they have induced others to support on their behalf (most recently by other taxpayers via an act of parliament).

If they manage to reduce the subsidy significantly, I will consider giving a few of my hard earned dollars to a political party.

I think the donation limit can be much higher, provided that there is full, and easily accessible, disclosure of who gives how much to whom.

poiticsl donations should only be made by individuals . not by unions or coporations and not by each voter paying 2 dollars to subisising parties he dose not support this was a crasy idea when it was brought in

It would be nice to let the Qubec people know how much their party receives in tax support versus the other provinces.
No corporate monies such be allowed to support any party.

It’s about time that we eliminated welfare for political parties. Let them each get their funding from their supporters. Yes, donation limits from individuals should be raised. Union members should each have a choice as to which party they would like to receive their share of donations made by the union. Corporations should be limited as to how much they may donate.

There should be no tax write off for political donations.

Also, there should be no limit to the amount of private donations (individual or otherwise) to political parties. Spend your money as you see fit.

NO to union and corporate donations — YES to an increase in the limit for individual donations, up to perhaps $2,000.

The sentiments of NCC members seems virtually unanimous that Harper’s threat to end the per-vote stipend is “right on”. It has also revealed how empty & morally bankrupt the other parties are in insisting that they are “entitled to their entitlements” (sound familiar?) and are deserving of their taxpayer-funded subsidy instead of having to raise their revenue like any self-respecting Canadian trying to survive & flourish in the private sector. Politicians are, after all, private sector representatives administering the common good, are they not? Or are they really just supposed to be egalitarians charged with redistributing wealth to the many that is created by the few?

But what really irked me this morning were the comments from the supposedly right-of-centre columnists in the Nat. Post & Sun newspapers decrying the Harper threat as undemocratic. Are there any right-of-centre media remaining in this country or are they only to be found on talk-show radio? God save us from the nanny-statists.

And while I’m at it, does no one in the media realize that Canada, economically, is privileged to be treading water at the moment as opposed to many nations that are going down for the second or third time? It is prudent for the Conservatives to be keeping their/our powder dry and avoiding speculative bail-outs until the situation is demonstrably grave. Let the panicked few flail about and when the dust settles, do what is necessary. Kudos to Harper, & Flaherty et al for sitting tight and letting the political neophytes like Ignatieff blow smoke.

In this household, we are all in favour of eliminating tax payer funding of political parties. Let each political party raise their own funds and let’s see how much support they really have. This source of funding is no different from forced funding from union dues. Both are undemocratic. Kudos to Harper for taking the opportunity to tackle this egregious practice. Time to tighten our belts and let’s see political parties set the example - right on down through the civil service. Next stop, provincial and municipal governments alike. The economy is hurting individual’s finances, let the elected and permanent “employees” at all levels also feel the pain. Everyone should share the burden.

Can anyone seriously imagine what it would be like for Canada to be governed by a coalition of the parties of the left in these critical economic times? They cannot even agree on who should lead such a coalition, let alone what to do about the situation - except perhaps to throw our money at the squeakiest wheels. It’s not about the good of Canada, it’s about a “Hate Harper” campaign. Why? Because he is doing the right thing in slimming government expenditures and not lining members’ pockets.
It would be nice if we could have some genuine media support, especially from the CBC, our taxpayer funded national television station that is supposed to reflect the views of all Canadians, but in practice is blatantly left of centre. Not surprising perhaps because news and commentary are served up by members of a union.
But even the National Post, a supposed right-of-centre newspaper, is negative on the idea. But then again, no one should be surprise. It is owned by a Liberal family, and the columnists are, for the most part, also members of a union.

Certainly agree that we should not have such a political
funding program. However, the introduction at this time
to eliminate it - I do not agree with - we could end up
with a dreadful coalition - all for $30M this fiscal year.

Now if Harper backs down he looks like a weak leader who
does not think ahead to the consequences of picking
this program for elimination at this time. We have more
important issues to deal with!

I am in agreement that their should be an end to taxpayer subsities to political parties. Part of leadership is being able to raise funds from your supporters and get them engaged in your party. I say no to Union and Corporate Donations but wouldn’t hurt to raise the private donations ceiling. Just too bad this whole issue had to throw our govt into the turmoil it now finds itself. Possible coalitions without mandates, possiblility of another election etc. I am still wondering if it was worth the price.

If he has to back down to stay in power, so be it–but keep it on the ‘back burner’ and that point alone should give him a majority in the next election– I can’t believe all comments that, basically, ‘WE DESERVE THIS’ and the media suporting it–YUK! That trough is already ‘way to big! Ron

While I agree that public funding of political parties should end, I deplore the government’s timing for doing so. In fact the Fin Min’s update was a disjointed, gassy, inflammatory thing that reassured no one and stuck a stick in a wasps nest. The items relating to the Public Service, pay equity and party public funding would be interpreted as attacks by the three affected groups: PSAC, women and the opposition parties. Why would the minority government take a gratuitous whack at all three just before the holiday season?

If it’s another election Harper was instigating, it’s clear to me that the CPC would not likely do as well as they did in October. Nobody is in any mood for another election this winter. Where is the advantage in that?

Does Harper think the GG will deflect a request by coalition led by the Liberals?

Did Harper think the opposition parties would just eat it?

Did Harper think?

Even if the coalition project is stillborn and the government survives, there will no peace or cooperation on the Hill for a long time. Very little will get done in this environment.

I should have added something above: the end of federal party subsidy is nowhere near. This Pythonesque attempt to end it and the subsequent embarrassed retreat virtually ensures that it will be around for much longer.

Stephen Harper has good ideas to save gov’t spending. Along with his I submit that we abolish the Senate, position of Gov. General, the Provincial Block, and
sell off usless assets starting with the entire system of The C B C . and get out of Bilingualism since it is unavailable in Quebec. Ever take a look at their road signs etc.? Thanks, Stephen Gillespie.

The basic premise should be based on the idea that no one has the right to spend other peoples money. That has been the problem with unions and corporations.

Some say this should have not been brought up in a ways and means motion sort of like waving a red flag in front of a bull. The timing of this proposal is way off but has merit. Political junkies recall that it was a Chretien law to try to stop Paul Martin from fund-raising from corporations but it was too little too late for him. Now that the 3 opposition parties have built this source of funding into their budgets they know they will be shredded by this proposed legislation. Their stated reason for coalescing is a smoke screen for the real reason (save taxpayer political funding). Granted the Conservatives could have waited until the Liberals hold their leadership convention but that is not Harper’s style (he was advised). These are big boys and they play for keeps. Dion, Duceppe and Layton are fighting for their lives and although they have not been advised correctly about their constitutional alternatives they are just trying to stay alive. If Madame Jean were to refuse to grant an election after Harper resigns after being defeated you will see a something short of a revolt and coup that will ultimately result in the amendment of the constitution. While the Harper government might not have been popular before this latest turn of events we see that most people are horrified by the alternative (a coalition with Jack Layton at the cabinet table) that another election is a preferred solution. Then we will see the hidden agenda of Stephen Harper, the end of taxpayer funding of political parties, the end of the Canadian Wheat Board, the end to some of the cultural spending that passes for art, many of the things that Harper was aware of when he was the voice of the NCC.