Corporate political donations in N.B. prove need for ban, says ex-elections head

A hard swing of corporate political contributions toward New Brunswick Liberals in 2015 shows why donations like that should be banned in the province,according to Canada's former chief electoral officer.

"Why is that the pattern?What does that tell you about what they are trying to do with their money," said Jean-Pierre Kingsley about corporate donations in New Brunswick tilting heavily toward the governing party.

"People don't put money into something unless they expect that it will have a return."

According to financial filings with Elections NB, New Brunswick Liberals took in $450,754 in corporate donations in 2015, the first full year following their 2014 election victory.

It's a peek into how patronage politics has worked for decades.- J.P. Lewis, political scientist

That's 96 per centof corporate donations reported that year, although the Progressive Conservatives have not yet disclosed donations they received during the second half of 2015.

Still, it's likely the Liberals took in substantially more than 80 per cent of all corporate donations in 2015, in an obvious preference by corporate donors for the party in power that has deep roots in the province.

Since public records began in New Brunswick in 1978, the partyin power has enjoyed a fourto oneaverage advantage incorporate donations in the first year following their election over all other parties combined.

New Brunswick's Progressive Conservatives received 86.6 per centof corporate donations in 2011, the first year after their last election win.

Ontario, P.E.I. poised for bans

Last week, Kingsley appeared before an Ontario Legislature committee studying a bill aimed at banning corporate and union donations to political parties in that province, but he says New Brunswick should do the same especially given the way corporate donors openly favour the governing party.

"It is what is required if we want to live in a democracy where individuals are the ones who vote and are the ones who have an influence on politicians," said Kingsley.

"We all know money matters."

In April, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau applauded moves by the former Chrtien,Martin and Harper governments to ban all but individual donations to political parties and called on provinces like New Brunswick to do the same

"I think banning union and corporate donations as we have done at the federal level is an important step that different provinces should consider," he said.

'Could be detrimental'

Ontario will be the fifth province to ban corporate and union money from politics and in May P.E.I. premier Wade MacLauchlan said that province would introduce similar rules later this year.

But in New Brunswick corporate donations have been such a financial advantage to the party in power there has been little enthusiasm for the idea.

In a discussion paper released by the Gallant government on July 5, the possibility of banning corporate and union donations was raised as something to consider, but with caution.

"With a limited population from which to raise funds, adopting such a ban in New Brunswick could be detrimental to political parties," the document stated.

University of New Brunswick political scientist J.P. Lewis said it is likely businesses feel it is an advantage in dealing with the government in New Brunswick to be donating money to the government party.And although that is an obvious financial advantage to the political party it may not send the right message to voters.

"It fits in to why normally governments have been tentative to change the electoral system because it's rewarding those who are already in power," said Lewis.

"It's a peek into how patronage politics has worked for decades."

Tom Bateman, a political scientistfrom St. Thomas University, says as long as information on who is donating is public he's not sure banning corporate and union donations is necessary.

"One option short of eliminating these donations is to make sure they are very transparent and the reportingto the public is clear and easy to access," said Bateman.