15°c Light rain showers
13°c Variable cloudiness
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Reports urges $600,000 cap for subsidizing provincial political parties
A political scientist handed the task of creating a formula for subsidizing provincial political parties has released his report.
The report recommends that a $600,000 cap be placed on the total amount of money that can be distributed to Manitoba’s five registered political parties.
Paul Thomas, professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba, was given the job of devising a new method for funding political party expenses after the old party financing law became a political football. Neither the Conservatives nor the New Democrats have applied for funds available since 2008 under previous legislation. Last spring, the legislature passed a new law putting the thorny issue into the hands of an independent allowance commissioner – Thomas.
"The new allowance program has two components for deciding on the allowances for political parties," Thomas said in a press release. "There is a modest amount of $100 for every candidate the party endorses in a general election and an amount based on the average number of votes obtained by the party over the past two general elections."
After determining the candidate-based amount, the remainder of the available funds will be distributed to parties on a proportionate basis.
Based on the results of the past two elections, the NDP would be eligible for $278,811 in government funding per year while the Tories would qualify for $242,712 and the Liberals $63,255.
Thomas said the allowance can only be used by political parties for administrative and operating costs plus the expense of complying with government regulations. It cannot be used for partisan advertising and polling costs.
The NDP has touted such an allowance as being important to a functioning democracy, while the Progressive Conservatives have vowed to shun any such taxpayer subsidy.
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 34 articles for today)
Province announces service for Elijah Harper
4:56 PM 0View Related
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Two women face rare charges of harbouring alleged murderer
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- One dead in Highway 10 collision
- Head-on collision kills pickup driver
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Flood victim gets six years for shotgun threat, attack
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- VIDEO: Left on the ice to rot
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- US zoo looking into conception mystery after birth of anteater; no male in pen
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- Li granted additional day passes
- Calgary man charged with murder of woman and her five-year-old son
- Manitoba's changing spiritual landscape
- Raleigh holds annual tour of backyard chicken coops, part of national spread of urban farming
- WHO warns Saudi coronavirus may be spreading; calls for urgent search for source
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Guitar-playing astronaut bows out of space station with music video of Bowie's 'Space Oddity'
- Microsoft update to address Windows 8 complaints, confusion will be free; to be called 8.1
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Uganda: Blessed are the children
- Winning 6/49 ticket purchased in Winnipeg
- New website profiles neighbourhoods of Winnipeg
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- VIDEO: Left on the ice to rot
- Paul McCartney to play Winnipeg Aug. 12
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- RCMP charge man with double-homicide in Ethelbert
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.