Tories, NDP and Greens want equal part in review of Ontario fundraising rules

A rare united front by three opposition leaders Tuesday wasn't enough to convince Premier Kathleen Wynne to agree to an independent review of Ontario's political fundraising rules.

Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown, the NDP's AndreaHorwath and Mike Schreiner of the Green Party held a joint newsconference asking for an open and transparent review process, andwarning the Liberals not to change the fundraising rules on theirown.

"One of the reasons that our initial meeting with the premierwent so badly is the premise of our first request was that this benon-partisan," said Brown.

"It will lack legitimacy if she has it hijacked by the premier'soffice or dictated by the Liberal party."

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Horwath agreed the Liberals should not be in charge of reformingthe regulations around campaign financing.

"The rules that govern our democracy should be built fairly andthey should be built to last, not made according to the whims of anyone political party," she said.

Wynne said the Liberals will introduce legislation next month toban corporate and union donations, lower maximum contribution limitsand regulate third-party advertising, and will send the bill out fortwo rounds of public hearings.

She wants some of the changes in place by Jan. 1, and claimed theopposition demands for an independent review panel would only delaythe needed reforms.

"I am not willing to delay the process, I'm not willing to slowit down," Wynne told the legislature.

"I'm not willing to buy into the stalling tactics of theopposition parties."

The opposition leaders want a panel with equal representationfrom the four parties as well as members of the public, labour, business and academia, which would hold public hearings beforemaking recommendations on new fundraising rules.

And they say their process could be done just as quickly as theLiberals' public hearings on their legislation.

The Green party wants to get the influence of "big money out ofpolitics," and said the Liberals should open up thereview processand not act on their own.

"It needs broad public input, and not just in committee hearingswhere people are responding to legislation, but actually in draftingthe legislation," said Schreiner.

Horwath said she was "very disappointed" in Wynne's position,and warned another Liberal government-controlled committee is notthe proper way to change such a fundamental part of the democraticprocess.

"It's very clear that the Liberal majority on committee is oftenused to shut down ideas and opposition amendments," she said.

"We need something that is broad, that's open and that'stransparent, and that is not managed by or controlled by or directedby the premier's office and the governing party."

The opposition can call witnesses at the public hearings into thegovernment's bill reforming the fundraising rules, added Wynne.

"The opposition parties can call whomever they choose to comespeak to the legislation," said Wynne. "That's the definition ofthe democratic process as it works in this legislature and thisprovince."

Brown still wants a public inquiry into the fundraising quotas ofup to $500,000 that were imposed on Liberal cabinet ministers. Heaccuses them of soliciting donations from companies looking to getgovernment contracts.

"We still believe a separate discussion needs to take place onwhat has happened in terms of a full examination of (government)contracts and grants, a spotlight on the ethical questions that havebeen raised," he said.

The Liberals have cancelled all private fundraising dinners andreceptions, and Wynne said cabinet ministers will no longer try toraise money from companies lobbying their ministry for business.