Harper bringing the SuperPAC model to Canada
- Thread starter mentalfloss
- Start date
A spending cap and more transparency for starters.
At this rate we will have mafia bosses exchanging suit cases full of cash just so we can be bombarded with spaghetti commercials.
I agree with you on the spending cap. Last provincial election every second ad was some sort of anti-Hudak ads. Of course, one could just create 25 agencies each spending to their cap. Should it be capped on viewpoint?
HarperPAC heralds arrival of big money in federal politics, Kingsley warns
Decades of work to remove the influence of big money from Canadian federal political campaigns is going down the drain with the advent of political action committees, a former chief electoral officer says.
Former Chief Election Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley says Canada is headed down the road well trodden in the United States, where political action committees, or PACs, raise and spend staggering amounts of money to influence elections, without the same restrictions that apply to political parties.
In Canada, such groups have been known as third parties and their activities are severely restricted during campaigns.
However, with the introduction of fixed dates for elections, third parties have been popping up like mushrooms months ahead of the actual election call, spending untold amounts on ads during a period when their activities are completely unregulated.
One of the newest groups on the block is HarperPAC — a name Kingsley described as "revealing" as its source of inspiration the big-money PAC phenomenon south of the border.
"We are in, effectively, a free-for-all zone," Kingsley said in an interview. "It took us 40 years of scandal, sweat to come to a regime where we had the best in the world for control of money in politics ... now we are back in the jungle."
Stephen Taylor, a longtime Conservative and former director of the National Citizens Coalition who's now a HarperPAC adviser and spokesman, denied that the group is taking a page from the American political playbook.
The acronym simply offers a useful recognition factor, Taylor said.
"It is really branding to let someone know, within the half second it takes to hear the word, what we are up to," he said. "The name HarperPAC, I think you pretty much ... know, what kind of things that we'll be up to."
Kingsley, for one, isn't buying it.
"It is insulting to Canadian intelligence to say this is not American-inspired."
There is no limit on how much third-party groups can raise and spend prior to an election being called. Nor are they required to disclose their donors or how much they have raised. That means pre-writ financial contributions can come from anyone, anywhere, said Kingsley, including corporations and unions, which are banned from contributing to political parties, and people who live outside of Canada.
more
HarperPAC heralds arrival of big money in federal politics, Kingsley warns | National Newswatch
Decades of work to remove the influence of big money from Canadian federal political campaigns is going down the drain with the advent of political action committees, a former chief electoral officer says.
Former Chief Election Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley says Canada is headed down the road well trodden in the United States, where political action committees, or PACs, raise and spend staggering amounts of money to influence elections, without the same restrictions that apply to political parties.
In Canada, such groups have been known as third parties and their activities are severely restricted during campaigns.
However, with the introduction of fixed dates for elections, third parties have been popping up like mushrooms months ahead of the actual election call, spending untold amounts on ads during a period when their activities are completely unregulated.
One of the newest groups on the block is HarperPAC — a name Kingsley described as "revealing" as its source of inspiration the big-money PAC phenomenon south of the border.
"We are in, effectively, a free-for-all zone," Kingsley said in an interview. "It took us 40 years of scandal, sweat to come to a regime where we had the best in the world for control of money in politics ... now we are back in the jungle."
Stephen Taylor, a longtime Conservative and former director of the National Citizens Coalition who's now a HarperPAC adviser and spokesman, denied that the group is taking a page from the American political playbook.
The acronym simply offers a useful recognition factor, Taylor said.
"It is really branding to let someone know, within the half second it takes to hear the word, what we are up to," he said. "The name HarperPAC, I think you pretty much ... know, what kind of things that we'll be up to."
Kingsley, for one, isn't buying it.
"It is insulting to Canadian intelligence to say this is not American-inspired."
There is no limit on how much third-party groups can raise and spend prior to an election being called. Nor are they required to disclose their donors or how much they have raised. That means pre-writ financial contributions can come from anyone, anywhere, said Kingsley, including corporations and unions, which are banned from contributing to political parties, and people who live outside of Canada.
more
HarperPAC heralds arrival of big money in federal politics, Kingsley warns | National Newswatch
I won't argue. I don't know Canadian law in that level of detail. I was speaking in terms of general principles.
If Harper, or Trudeau, or any other Canadian politician is violating the law, she or he should be prosecuted. That is completely unrelated to whether or not the campaign laws as they currently stand in Canada are a good idea or not.
A few years ago we had liberal bagmen with paper bags full of cash . Does that count ?
What election rules? U.S.-style attack time comes to Canada
Canada's electoral laws are intended to limit the influence of big money in campaigns by enforcing strict contribution limits, making the names of all donors public and banning donations from corporations and unions.
But a growing number of third parties are exploiting a loophole in the law that puts no serious restrictions on how much is raised or spent before the campaign officially begins.
The newest entrants are Engage Canada and HarperPAC, and they are not really third parties so much as offshoots of the three main political parties.
Engage Canada was started by two former senior Liberal staffers in Ontario, Don Guy and Dave Gene, and Kathleen Monk, an equally prominent federal NDP strategist. Take my word for it, because you won't find any disclosure of who is behind the group from its website.
On the other side is HarperPAC. The name tells you all you need to know.
The group is a "political action committee" in the U.S. mould and dedicated to re-electing the Harper government.
It's the brainchild of Stephen Taylor, the former Manning Centre and National Citizen Coalition activist, and a dozen former Conservative staffers whose photos and bios are prominently displayed on the group's website.
PACs aren't entirely new to Canada. In Ontario, a coalition of unions under the banner Working Families is credited, or blamed, for undermining the campaign of former provincial Conservative leader Tim Hudak in the 2014 election.
Engage Canada is a kind of offspring of Working Families. Unions, prohibited from financing candidates or political parties during a federal campaign, are important contributors.
Though how much they're donating, Engage Canada isn't saying.
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/politics/w...s-style-attack-time-comes-to-canada-1.3126670
Canada's electoral laws are intended to limit the influence of big money in campaigns by enforcing strict contribution limits, making the names of all donors public and banning donations from corporations and unions.
But a growing number of third parties are exploiting a loophole in the law that puts no serious restrictions on how much is raised or spent before the campaign officially begins.
The newest entrants are Engage Canada and HarperPAC, and they are not really third parties so much as offshoots of the three main political parties.
Engage Canada was started by two former senior Liberal staffers in Ontario, Don Guy and Dave Gene, and Kathleen Monk, an equally prominent federal NDP strategist. Take my word for it, because you won't find any disclosure of who is behind the group from its website.
On the other side is HarperPAC. The name tells you all you need to know.
The group is a "political action committee" in the U.S. mould and dedicated to re-electing the Harper government.
It's the brainchild of Stephen Taylor, the former Manning Centre and National Citizen Coalition activist, and a dozen former Conservative staffers whose photos and bios are prominently displayed on the group's website.
PACs aren't entirely new to Canada. In Ontario, a coalition of unions under the banner Working Families is credited, or blamed, for undermining the campaign of former provincial Conservative leader Tim Hudak in the 2014 election.
Engage Canada is a kind of offspring of Working Families. Unions, prohibited from financing candidates or political parties during a federal campaign, are important contributors.
Though how much they're donating, Engage Canada isn't saying.
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/politics/w...s-style-attack-time-comes-to-canada-1.3126670
I thought I told you to stop forgetting your hallucination meds.
Now you need dementia ones.
Rofl
HarperPAC shuts down less than 1 week after launch
Donations will be returned, group says
HarperPAC, a conservative third-party group, has announced it is shutting down operations less than a week after its launch.
HarperPAC was formed by a team of Conservatives including several former political staffers. Its efforts included a radio ad that targeted Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.
In a statement delivered on Twitter, spokesperson Stephen Taylor said recent debate about the group brought the issue of third-party advertising out of the shadows.
Taylor said HarperPAC was formed to respond to left-leaning, union-funded organizations such as Engage Canada. That group was launched earlier this month by former NDP and Liberal strategists.
Taylor said HarperPAC will return all donations to contributors.
Third-party groups can accept money in the pre-writ period without having to disclose dollar figures or where donations come from.
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/politics/harperpac-shuts-down-less-than-1-week-after-launch-1.3128632
HarperPAC shuts down less than 1 week after launch
Donations will be returned, group says
HarperPAC, a conservative third-party group, has announced it is shutting down operations less than a week after its launch.
HarperPAC was formed by a team of Conservatives including several former political staffers. Its efforts included a radio ad that targeted Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.
In a statement delivered on Twitter, spokesperson Stephen Taylor said recent debate about the group brought the issue of third-party advertising out of the shadows.
Taylor said HarperPAC was formed to respond to left-leaning, union-funded organizations such as Engage Canada. That group was launched earlier this month by former NDP and Liberal strategists.
Taylor said HarperPAC will return all donations to contributors.
Third-party groups can accept money in the pre-writ period without having to disclose dollar figures or where donations come from.
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/politics/harperpac-shuts-down-less-than-1-week-after-launch-1.3128632
HarperPAC, Engage Canada highlight confusion over 3rd-party ads: Chris Hall
Conservatives cry foul, one group calls it quits and there are many questions about 3rd party ads
The Conservative Party wants federal elections officials to investigate whether third-party groups, including one started by former Liberal and NDP strategists, are violating the law by posting attack ads against his party that can be seen in three Ontario ridings where byelections are underway.
Party spokesman Kory Teneycke told CBC News that the party raised its concerns with the commissioner of elections a few weeks ago, about the time Engage Canada began running ads opposed to the Harper government.
"The Fair Elections Act has restrictions on what third party groups can do during those byelection periods," Teneycke said in an interview airing Saturday with CBC Radio's The House.
"I think it's a question as to whether the activities of Engage Canada and some of these other groups who are operating right now are in violation of those rules.''
Engage Canada's 'Neglect' TV spot that takes aim at the Conservative government. The third-party group has said little about its founders and donors. (Youtube.com)
A spokesman for the elections commissioner would not confirm whether a complaint had been filed, or if any investigation is being done.
A spokesman for the elections commissioner would not confirm whether a complaint had been filed, or if any investigation is being done.
The government called byelections this spring to replace MPs who resigned in Sudbury, Ottawa West-Nepean and Peterborough. The vote is set for Oct. 19, the same day as the fixed date for the federal election.
"It is a concern to us that the rules are followed, that they're fair and transparent. And that's true of third-party spending," Teneycke said.
Under federal election law third parties must register with Elections Canada if they spend more than $500 in advertising expenses in relation to an election. Those rules also apply to byelections where candidates have been nominated, and if the advertising promotes a specific candidate or party.
According to Elections Canada, the Liberals are the only party to have nominated candidates in two of the byelection ridings: Peterborough and Sudbury.
Engage Canada says it has already received an advisory opinion from Elections Canada that the restrictions only apply if the party being targeted has candidates nominated for the byelection. Elections Canada would not directly address questions about the Conservatives' complaint.
HarperPAC left 'wrong impression'
The Conservative complaint is the latest twist in a tumultuous week in which the actions of third parties, or political action committees as they are commonly known in the United States, came under intense media scrutiny.
...more...
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/politics/h...usion-over-3rd-party-ads-chris-hall-1.3129882
Conservatives cry foul, one group calls it quits and there are many questions about 3rd party ads
The Conservative Party wants federal elections officials to investigate whether third-party groups, including one started by former Liberal and NDP strategists, are violating the law by posting attack ads against his party that can be seen in three Ontario ridings where byelections are underway.
Party spokesman Kory Teneycke told CBC News that the party raised its concerns with the commissioner of elections a few weeks ago, about the time Engage Canada began running ads opposed to the Harper government.
"The Fair Elections Act has restrictions on what third party groups can do during those byelection periods," Teneycke said in an interview airing Saturday with CBC Radio's The House.
"I think it's a question as to whether the activities of Engage Canada and some of these other groups who are operating right now are in violation of those rules.''
Engage Canada's 'Neglect' TV spot that takes aim at the Conservative government. The third-party group has said little about its founders and donors. (Youtube.com)
A spokesman for the elections commissioner would not confirm whether a complaint had been filed, or if any investigation is being done.
A spokesman for the elections commissioner would not confirm whether a complaint had been filed, or if any investigation is being done.
The government called byelections this spring to replace MPs who resigned in Sudbury, Ottawa West-Nepean and Peterborough. The vote is set for Oct. 19, the same day as the fixed date for the federal election.
"It is a concern to us that the rules are followed, that they're fair and transparent. And that's true of third-party spending," Teneycke said.
Under federal election law third parties must register with Elections Canada if they spend more than $500 in advertising expenses in relation to an election. Those rules also apply to byelections where candidates have been nominated, and if the advertising promotes a specific candidate or party.
According to Elections Canada, the Liberals are the only party to have nominated candidates in two of the byelection ridings: Peterborough and Sudbury.
Engage Canada says it has already received an advisory opinion from Elections Canada that the restrictions only apply if the party being targeted has candidates nominated for the byelection. Elections Canada would not directly address questions about the Conservatives' complaint.
HarperPAC left 'wrong impression'
The Conservative complaint is the latest twist in a tumultuous week in which the actions of third parties, or political action committees as they are commonly known in the United States, came under intense media scrutiny.
...more...
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/politics/h...usion-over-3rd-party-ads-chris-hall-1.3129882