Of course the vote subsidy should be eliminated. It seems the last time the Harper Govt proposed this it almost brought the Govt down. If we can finally squeeze a Conservative majority, I would hope this would be one of the first bills to be passed.
And by the way, they can eliminate the $8billion in transfer payments too.

Give the conservatives a majority and they will eliminate the $1.95 subsidy

The federal subsidy for political parties is entirely inconsistent with the democratic process. Political parties are private organizations of individuals who band together for political reasons. If they can’t fund themselves with the aid and support of their members, there is no conceivable obligation for taxpayers in general to do so.

The subsidy was put in place by a former Liberal government largely because the Liberal party at that time was in poor financial shape. The decision to do so was a disgraceful and cynical use of government power to siphon taxpayers’ money to prop up a political organization. The subsidy should never have been put in place and should be removed immediately.

By all means we must get rid of the subsidy, mabe we can then get rid of the BLOC.The thought of them sitting in our parliament when they only are in Quebec makes me furious.A separatist party allowed there is very foolish

I certainly agree that this subsidy should be removed. When we get a majority I expect Stephen Harper will do so. It was not worth getting defeated when he did propose its elimination but I believe parties should be raising money from their own members. I agree with the current system where individuals not unions, corporation or other special interest groups, only permit donations.

Not only should the subsidy be eliminated; Quebec should be thrown out of confederation with the land it occupied at the time it was known as lower Canada

I should not be forced to support a party with my tax money for a party that I do not support.

This subsidy is completely wrong and must be stopped. Tax payers must rise up and raise hell about this tax grab. It is not just Quebec that love this tax payer money, the Liberals and the NDP also revel in haveing our cash.

The suggestion to get rid of $1.95 per vote is LONG overdue! We should require the Bloc to run candidates in ALL ridings, from coast to coast to coast or the party should be DISBANDED.
I agree with George, “Give the conservatives a majority and they will eliminate the $1.95 subsidy.” They tried once but the “deck was stacked” against the move, to wit, the “coalition”.

Free handouts and subsidies are a disaster, especially when given to politicians.!!!

Please keep the campaign going to eliminate the $1.95 per voter subsidy to all political parties.

Definitely get rid of the $1.95 subsidy! Certainly the Conservatives could do it with a majority, but that platform would make the election more difficult to win. Politics has to be more subtle. Once people have their feet in the trough, it becomes a “right”. Think of some other gambit.

…..and risk triggering an election that would give the Libs, NDP & Bloc the excuse they need to re-form the coalition?

Not worth the risk. Better to leave the $1.95/vote subsidy in place but refer to its odious presence from time to time. It would probably make for a good put-down ad by the Tories when the time comes.

I was naive about the $1.95 subsidy, but now that its brought to my attention, I say abolish it. Let the Bloc voters contribute, not the Canadian taxpayer.
Kudos to Roger Graves for his eloquent statement.

This subsidy should be removed immediately. Political parties should raise their own money. That’s the way it used to be.

The Federal $1.95 per vote subsidy is an arbitrary money-grab first initiated by a former Liberal government to finance their party operations. It is inappropriate and a sly theft of money from tax-payers who would not support parties not of their liking.

Mr. Harper has done a very good job as Prime Minister with the Conservative party and represents Canada with dignity and professionalism, particularly in the current minority government position. It would be my hope and expectation that this $1.95 vote subsidy would be eliminated when Mr. Harper achieves a majority in the next election.

We do recall PMSH attempting this before and the reaction from the public. There are many other multi million dollar schemes to be cut from public funding.

Priorities include this one and when tallied up, we will find billions in savings. Should be easy to do, though politically difficult.

$1.95 per vote, should be gone tomorrow, but it is unlikely to go until the Conservatives get a majority. The other parties depend on that income to survive (too bad they can’t convince their supporters to fund them, but that is exactly what they deserve).

As for Quebec, and/or NL leaving Canada. Fat chance. Neither one of them can afford to go it alone. NL learned that lesson in the 1940s. Talk is cheap, but action is VERY expensive.

As for the $8 billion in transfer payments to Quebec: That had better stop soon, or Alberta (and probably B.C.) will be leaving Canada because they are quickly losing interest in funding the $8 billion gift to a province that doesn’t seem to appreciate it, and seems to think that they don’t need it anyway, while demanding more.

Politics would be so entertaining, if it wasn’t so expensive…

Why we entertain the idea of a separatist party ,I do not know. Ouylaw the party and fire the bum. Cancel the $1.95 and make the party raise it’s own money. Limit the individual amounts so that we don’t get into the mess and corruption -influence issues- that plague the US party system.

AND with this story regarding separation, it sure doesnt help when Canadian taxpayers are funding over 90% of their party.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/separation-your-decision-gilles-duceppe-tells-newfoundlanders/article1526726/

If you believe in your political party, then you will support it yourself financially and through volunteer work.

Get rid of the subsidies! If they want to run in an election they should be able to manage their funds in such a way that they can pay for their own campaigns. And if they can’t, why would we want them in charge of our hard-earned money!

Once again the liberal notion that no bad behaviour should go unrewarded is staring us in the face. There should be no Party dedicated to what amounts to treason. And then get the benefit of taxpayer money to finance the destruction of our country. Leftist lunacy in action. And transfer payments certainly encourage poor fiscal policy by virtue of the welfare payment you can count on to spend more than you have. Wealth redistribution for provinces. What does that sound like to you? Vote buying with our own money doesn’t seem to bother most Canadians. People in this country need to wake up. Please.

yes I believe this 1.95 per vote should be cancelled immediately.
No wonder the country is broke.
The taxpayers should not have to buy votes for parties that can’t even run their own affairs.

Governments should not be allowed to pass bills such as the $1.95 per vote subsidy with out the approval of taxpayers by way of referendums.
As for Duceppe’s cross Canada trip I hope he convinces the majority of Canadians we would all be better off if Quebec were to separate.

Sounds like typical money grubbing bullcrap yet again to me. Eliminate tag on earnings and tax only expenditure and corporations. Then we can choose to spend or not.

If I want to donate money to a political party I prefer to donate to a party of my choice. I don’t believe I should be forced to donate money to the Liberals, NDP, Green, or the Bloc.

This should have been eliminated, like, yesterday. I don’t want my tax dollars to support the Greens or the NDP or the Libs or the conservatives and especially not the Bloc. I make donations to one party and I want the freedom to choose where it goes. Get your hands out of my pocket. Will Quebec ever say “WE HAVE ENOUGH, WE DON’T WANT ANY MORE”?

Of course it should be elimnated! If these parties cannot, or are incapable of surviving on their own private donations, they have business existing at all. I’m sick and tired of funding all these pet projects that do the country no good whatsoever! Take the money and spend it in areas that need it, and there are many. Senior Citizens come to mind. And I’m sure we could find a great many ways to help them with this kind of money.

I have never been in favour of the $1.95 sunsidy for every vote cast to any of the 4 political parties. It’s digusting, actually. And this guy from Quebec, what’s his name?, has no business travelling the rest of the country and subsidized by our tax dollars. This is a joke. I still don’t understand how we tolerate a Provincial/Seperate party to run in a Federal election. I get all steamed when I read or hear about it.

The gouverning bodies need to lead by example especially now. Earn your own way and quit using the money me and Joe tax payer had to earn. If it’s worth it it’s worth working for

I know of no other country on this planet that willingly and naively subsidizes its own distruction. Unbelievable!

Get rid of the subsidy and tell Duceppe to stay home.

The transfer payments and political subsidies are further examples of taxpayer money being used for causes with which the donor disagrees. If a cause can’t be supported voluntarily, it is not supportable by force.

Please don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out and by all means get rid of the $1.95 subsidy. Perhaps another motion should be made to get rid of it just before the next election. I think it would be a good thing to go to the people with.

I hope that when Stephen Harper gets his majority government, with few if any Quebec seats (the fewer the better), he elimates the subsidy, as he attempted to do upon forming the current government.

It is a scandal when Bloc Quebecois supporter contribute only 10% of the party’s operating funds, with the rest coming from Canadian taxpayers. This is yet further evidence of how infantilized Quebec voters are. They even expect the Canadian taxpayer to fund their separatist (in name only, we know that they are not serious) party.

The sooner Quebec is independant (again, something that will never happen since they are all bark and no bite), the better.

Let’s get rid of the $1.95 and Quebec at the same time. A Referendum in the ROC would point out how we all feel about being screwed over for so much and for so long. Let Quebec then apply to rejoin confederation and agree to behave like any other Province. Until then, they will have to use Mickey Mouse money and a begging bowl.

This pains me as the happiest days of my Canadian life were spent in Quebec. My son is a Quebecer too.

Any legislation from the Crooked Cretin must be suspect and not in the interest of Canada.

Canada has been wrecked by liberals and Quebec for too long. Now is the time to clean house by any means. A 1960’s type approach to being a country is no longer good enough. No soft power works. Censor the Toronto Star!

Watch the wretched Obama trying to re-introduce the left wing nineteen sixty politics into the US. Everything he touches falls to dust. This will befall us if the Conservatives do not get a majority.

Political parties should finance their own activities.
If they cannot, then they fail to justify their own existence

The rules were changed by Jean Chretien, to prevent Paul Martin Jr. from having a majority government. He was so full of hatred against his fellow LIEberal, that he made the taxpayer an unwilling political contributor. We must make sure the CPC gets a majority came next election

This practice should never have been started by the Liberal party
It should be done away with immediately along with a lot of other waste.
A waste just as bad will be the increase in the number of ridings and many more MP.

i agree with brian caldwell .the bloc must be a national party to sit in ottawa. as any other party to qualify as a national party.

Parties should be paid for by their membership ; otherwise it is simply one more tax (probably arranged by those who do not believe in paying their own way).

We need a dramatic change in this country where our government is driven bottom up by the people. If the people want something poliical, they can pay for it directly. This $1.95 was voted in in the self interest of the parties. On the other hand, we get the government we deserve since we voted them in. The dramatic change we need is for representatives who do what we want, not what they want.

I fail to understand how any party has a right to parlimentry status
when they make no election effort to get represention from other provinces except their own (Quebec)? In the past rhetoric of the type being expounded by Mr. Duceppe would have been considered as treasonous and
appropriate action taken.

I find it embarrassing to be a citizen of this country which has such stupid laws. Bring on an election. Bring on accountability.

Democracy depemds on people supporting the direction they desire.
As well, governments should not use our tax dollars to support special interest groups, clubs and organizations. It should be the members responsibilitv.

I agree Bob. But at this point it’s extremely difficult to get Canadians to pay attention to what is and has actually been going on in this country let alone understand any of it. And of course people would even have to get off their lazy arses and vote. Our representatives don’t need to be accountable to their constituents because so few are engaged. They are allowed to do what they want. I’d like to have a government that’s afraid of the people instead of the people afraid of the government. But that takes effort. Maybe it will come. Or maybe it’s too late.

The $1.95 gift to the political parties is ridiculous, and wrong for several reasons…the most important being the fact that the Bloc Quebecois is bent on getting out of Canada, and we’re funding them! Wow! Only in Canada eh?…Also, Duceppe sweet-talking Newfoundland Labrador is like letting the fox into the henhouse. NL has been scammed for decades on the Churchill Falls Hydro project and received just a fraction of what they should have from it. Now Duceppe et al are eyeing the recent success of the offshore oil boom, and they want a part of it! Beware Newfoundland!!

I agree with stopping the giving of our tax money to anyone running for a political office
in Canada. The giving should come from private sources not from public funds.

Get rid of it. If you believe in the direction of a party you will be willing to not only vote for them at election time, you will be willing to help support them, particularly with the generous kick back offered on the income tax return. A mandatory per vote subsidy ensures that tax paying citizens are denied the value of their efforts to support the party of their choice. It was this kind of attitude towards the working people of the land that kick started the American Revolution.

I expect 99.9% of your subscribers will be supporting the cancelation of such a subsidy. That is because they are in favour of your mission. I am not a contributor or subscriber and I would cancel it too.

BUT, the government does what suits it. You talk of the Leveque party getting it but the Conservatives get more. I think it was the Conservatives who implimented it when corporations were stopped from funding parties. They did it so they would get sufficient funds to fight the Liberals, because funding from just individuals was not enough.

The whole principle of a separatist party existing in Canada with the expressed goal of separation is wrong in the first place and people aught to to be negative on that more so than where their funding comes from.

IF it were me I`d call their bluff and agree with their separation, cut off their transfer payments and create check-points at borders. Give them pure independance and see how long it will take before they will be crawling back. In the meantime they are calling our bluff.

Is anyone out there concerned about the people who are medicaly certified disabled and unable to provide for themselves? Their income should be at least the official poverty level. Parents who look after their disabled kids should be given the same amount as others would get for looking after them. Senior Citizens were mentioned above; how about the disabled also.

Political parties should not ever receive public funds, tax $$, to use as they please, to help maintain their viability. Period. Point finale. End of discussion.

nothing more to add to this except that the bloc should be tried for treason and the punishment?…. well let imagination take that one eh!

Dear NCC,

I believe Canada would be the laughing stock of the international

community if they knew that taxpayers subsidize separatist parties whose

only goal is is to break up the country. Yes, I am in favour of eliminating

the tax subsidy for votes to political parties.

Brian K.

Saskatchewan

Get rid of that political subsidy right now!

No political parties should receive public funds, we are in a deficit again and the millions they receive each year that is spent with no accountability is not acceptable. Use the money to fund programs that support the canadian tax payers

I agree that the sunsidy should be abolished. For me the bigger issue is because nothing can happen in Canada to provide proportional representation for all other provinces because of Quebec’s capability to veto a vote by all other provinces. I would vote for the separation of Quebec, I would encourage a national vote by all citizens and if separation was the majority wish, separation details and ownership of assets would be decided by Canada not Quebec. Let France support them because they definitly can not support themselves. Once gone, I do not think anyone would want the burden of Quebec back.

A few days ago the results of a poll asking the question:”Would Quebec be better off if it left Canada?” (Or words to that effect. My immediate answer was: “Who would pay the bills?”

It was asking the wrong question. It should have been:
“Would Canada be better off without Quebec?”
My reply would have been: “YOU BETCHA!”

Remember the ‘95 referendum? As far as I am concerned: If only the separatist had won! We’d be better off today. Canada lost it!

I, for one, support the political party I like, and it’s not the Bloc! When are the Conservatives going to deal with this problem? It is one of the reasons that they are still a minority party. Without the subsidy, Canada might slide back to being a two party system,three if you must, but at least a more workable political system.

Political partys should not recieve funds from the tax payer. Only from there own membership.
I believe the major problem in Canada is party politics. WE need a major modification to our system. A transferable vote system should be seriously investigated and presented to the public in a inteligent way. I doubt that we have a leader in Canada with the internal fortitude (guts) to even try to correct the weakness within our (Canadian) system. Party Politics came with the system and a Party leader will not propose a change.

NCC, please confirm this from Bill Maclean.

“BUT, the government does what suits it. You talk of the Leveque party getting it but the Conservatives get more. I think it was the Conservatives who implemented it when corporations were stopped from funding parties. They did it so they would get sufficient funds to fight the Liberals, because funding from just individuals was not enough.”

I think Chretien changed the rules late in his term but Cons may have totally eliminated the business portion. Conservatives have lead with personal donations and in the past lacked the Corporate donations. Libs were always successful receiving Corp help so why did Chretien abandon it? Thanks

Oh yes, I like all of the above comments. Does anyone remember the NCC promoting less government, fewer politicians, less taxation the result, and who would believe that more politicians make for a better country. Some very big changes are appropriate within Canada and the majority of politicos in ottawa seem interested only in how much more can be pumped off the hopeless and down trodden taxpayer. Did it ever strike anyone that perhaps only the taxpayer in Canada should be the voter and decision maker as to how their fair share of support should be used. Thanks NCC. Stephen Gillespie.

Nothing personally against the Green Party but in the last election they received about one million dollars because of the subsidy and have no one elected. Now that I’m on the Green Party. Their leader. Elizabeth May, ran against Peter MacKay in the last election so this just shows the mentality of May, or should I say her lack of reality in believing that she could defeat MacKay. Elizabeth stated that she would stay in Pictou County, that she loves it here and bought a house here and does not plan on leaving. She now resides in BC, where she believes that she stands more of a chance to be elected. (At least she finally had somewhat of a reality check) But once again a politician making promises she did not keep.

Get rid of the $1.95 subsidy, let parties like the Greens get their finances from those who support their parties.

Scurvy Dog

Jean Chretien left the parting gift for Paul Martin with campaign finance reform which took effect January 2004. Individual donation limits that were $5,000 were reduced to 1,000. Corporations and businesses were also caught up in this as well. The $1.75 public subsidy was brought into effect then to help offset the higher limits that individuals could contribute.

The problem is that the $1.75( adjusted for inflation is $1.95 now) is subsidized by taxpayers and all taxpayers are theoretically subsidizing parties that they do not support

Hope that answers your question

Peter Coleman
President and CEO
National Citizens Coalition

It is almost unbelievable that the general public has to support what is essentially a provincial party bent on breaking up the country. And, we pay their salaries and we will pay their pensions for their efforts! I hope students of history and politics do not think this generation took leave of our senses all together. Like other comments here, why should the general public be forced to support private political parties, even those they oppose. Like all involved Canadians I financially support the party of my choice but I can stop and or modify that if I don’t like what they are doing.

Get rid of that subsidy a.s.p.!!

Thanks for your response Peter.

Right, and now only personal donations are allowed up to $1100 or so. The Conservatives have more broad based support this way than Opposition. And yes, past time to eliminate the subsidies.

Where does one begin with this ridicules waste of tax payers money. Of course get rid of the subsidy and the Bloc as they are only in it for the money. Having a separtist party sitting every day in our Government is beyond comprehension. Next time around give the Conservatives a majority, they will get my vote.

If the Liberals win the next election, or the Conservatives get another minority position - either Quebec separates or the West should certainly decide to separate.

Surely we have enough common sense to do something that would certainly improve our future!

I’m all for getting rid of the $1 95 subsidy and have been since Jean
Chretian first brought it in. It was a cheap way to raise funds for the Liberals. My advice for the Bloc leader … Stay at home in Quebec.

The subsidy should be discontinued and donation limits raised. No one should be forced to support all or any parties directly or indirectly.

Canada at present has a four-party parliamentary system — and to think that one of those parties (the Bloc)is intent on destroying the country while being subsidized by the taxpayers is absolutely insane — get rid of the $1.95 per vote payout by giving the Conservatives a resounding majority in the next election — and get rid of the Bloc and Quebec! Who needs them anyway? They’ve been nothing but a bunch of blood-sucking bastards for as long as I can remember. And by the way, let them go empty-handed as well. We’ve been supporting them far too long. The only thing we need to give them is a resounding “BON VOYAGE”!

What makes this entire public funded campaign cash handout a farce is the fact one must belong to a party to receive campaign cost subsidy. This favors the party system which I feel has been the downfall of true representative democracy. Independent candidates get no subsidy and must bear their own campaign costs, but it is independent MPs who can break the power of the whipped vote.

Once again a ‘new’ system has been implemented to protect status quo limited democracy power structures.

The only positive in this system of tax payer donations is this. All of the Parties are left wing. The CPC is hardly conservative. But the other Parties are all left wing by conviction. In my opinion this splits the vote somewhat from the Libs. The Greens and NDP and the Bloc as well would end up back in the LPC fold if they went belly up. The Libs would willingly welcome seperatists, socialists and Marxists into the fold. They already have embraced Bob Rae, and Dosanjh just off the top of my head.

I do not agree.
Most individuals are never going to give that kind of money to a political party and businesses have NO business giving money to any politician ever and shouldn’t be allowed to at all period.
Businesses are not people but should be forced to pay higher income taxes and payroll taxes should be eliminated.

Some real conservative grassroots.

The subsidy should be eliminated. People have to be educated enough to understand that if they support a party ideologically, then the only way to get that party elected is to support it financially and with labour, such as volunteering to help in campaigns, etc. The problem is that people do not get that education, except in cases of progessive brainwashing in many schools and universities. People have to put their money and efforts where their convictions lie, whatever those may be.

Only political parties that have elected members from at least three provinces should be recognized as national parties, and therefore able to get government subsidies for offices, personnel, etc. And never any money from the voters without their consent and involvement. And never, never, any money from corporations, unions, or third-party lobbyist groups. The government is for the people and should be controlled by the people. Group-think is for socialists…

If the Conservative party ever gets a majority the subsidy should be phased out over a three year period.

Is there any way of getting rid of the Bloc as a Federal Party?

You were certainly busy reading on April 8th. After all the responses which
were certainly negative, I would think a “referendem” on this subject would be a “MUST; for the next election. Also on the ridiculous subsidy from Alberta and B.C. who are both unable to do it next time at the rate we are going.
Now - as of June 30th, it is looking more and more like the whole world is
facing a tough time. Let’s follow the NCC on ’smaller governments’ and do away with foolish spending such as this and also including a party which in no way represents Canada. The biligualism in the whole country is a very costly waste also. Lets have a referendum on all of it.