Top Left Header
Header
Opinion
Arrow
Title - The View from Dundas
Follow OurHometown.ca on... Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Follow us on RSS
Charitable election spending
By Phillip Blancher
OurHometown.ca

Charitable election spending
Ah, the stupid season is almost upon us. For this writer, the stupid season is the election spending season. Stephen Harper, Thomas Muclair, Justin Trudeau and Elizabeth May will all lead parties who are about to spend big dollars on election ads.
PHOTO CREDIT - NationalPost.com

South Dundas - July 14, 2015 - Ah, the stupid season is almost upon us. For this writer, the stupid season is the election spending season. It is the most wonderful time of the year, if you are a sales person for any media outlet. The time where common sense goes out the window, political party (and third-party) wallets open and we are inundated with an audio and visual assault on the senses.

While Canadian political parties do not spend nearly the amount their American cousins do on election advertising, the amount they do spend is stupefying to say the least. In 2011, each of the four major parties (Conservative, Liberal, NDP, Green) were allowed to spend 20-21 million dollars during the campaign period. That does not include any advertising before the election writ was dropped. Most of that money national is spent on advertising telling you why their opponents are bad, and they arent’ that bad. Before the writ is dropped, advertising spending by political parties and third-party groups are not subject to any guidelines or limits, that in itself is wrong.

Each of the parties have huge war chests built up of political donations. Most of the political advertising, in my view, is a waste of money. Outside of helping shore up the books for television, radio, newspaper and online companies, there is no benefit to 99.999% of the advertising out there.

The solution many have suggested is to do away with election advertising or severely cap the amount political parties can spend. That is one way to go, but even if I believe that election advertising is a waste of money, the parties should still be able to do it. So let’s make a benefit for all out of it the spending frenzy; make charitable political donations truly charitable.

Right now, when for every $1.00 you donate to a political party, you receive a tax credit for $0.75. Change that to dollar for dollar. For every dollar you donate, you should receive an equivalent valued tax credit. That will increase people’s donations to political parties. Then the spending cap should also be removed. Let the parties spend as much as they want. However, also change the system so that for every dollar a political party spends, an equivalent amount of money MUST be donated to an actual charity, a real charity. Not just a charity of the party’s choosing, but the person donating to the party gets to choose.

All donations to the parties, how they are spent, and whom the charitable donations went to, would all be tracked and published for all to see. This could lead to some interesting donations, such as someone donating to the Conservative Party of Canada, but also directing the charitable portion to the most socially progressive causes. Or someone could donate to the NDP, but also to a Right to Life group, just for laughs.

The end benefit to this is not that political parties get what they want, unfettered spending and donations without limit, its that there becomes a greater benefit to political spending. Right now, the system benefits no one outside of the political hacks, advertising sales people, and media conglomerates. The benefit is that some good comes from the orgy of political spending, benefiting charities all over the country.

Follow Me on TwitterPhillip Blancher is a writer, web geek and communications professional by trade. He has written for a number of publications in Eastern Ontario and Northern New York State and also was a weekly morning show contributor for two area radio stations. As a resident of South Dundas for the last seven years, this long-time political buff has taken on an appreciation of small-town/rural life while also being a father of four and a soccer coach. Blancher's columns on OurHometown.ca will cover a range of his interests from politics, parenthood, local history and on his favourite NHL team, the Buffalo Sabres. If you have questions or wish to contact Phillip, you can email him at pblancher@ourhometown.ca






Title - Story Count
8,404 Stories & Growing Daily...

To date OurHometown.ca has posted a total of 8,404 stories! News, sports, hockey, lifestyle, opinion and more!

Be sure to check out our Columnists archives or, why not Contribute a Story yourself!

OurHometown.ca offers a very generous revenue sharing opportunity for our Columnists. If you are interested in learning more details about writing for us, please send us an EMAIL.
Five places you didn



Follow OurHometown.ca on... Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Follow us on RSS Follow Us with E-Mail Updates!


Title - More Headlines
Click on Photo or Story Title for more info
Most disruptive European fintech companies
TFSA Limits: what you Need to Know
Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce  calls for urgent Provincial support
FAO Statement on Ontario
GetInTheLoop partners with WE Regional Chamber
OurHometown.ca News Database Last Updated:
Jan. 28, 2024 @ 1:06 PM EST






Footer

Free Sitemap Generator