[Nehkara]

Flaherty to slash public funding for federal parties

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will slash almost $30 million a year in public funding for federal parties, in a move that would save taxpayers' money but deal a major financial blow to opposition parties, CTV News has learned.

While the Conservatives would lose the most money, it would be a smaller share of their overall revenue because they get most of their funding through private donations.

"They're going to have a hell of a fight on their hands. This is not the way to behave in a democracy," Liberal leadership contender Bob Rae told CTV News.

In 2007, the Conservative Party received just 37 per cent of its funding from the public subsidy, according to The Canadian Press. That's far lower than the other parties, including the Liberals:

• Bloc Quebecois: 86 per cent
• Green Party: 65 per cent
• Liberals: 63 per cent
• NDP: 57 per cent

"For the smaller parties, this public funding is what allows us to participate fully in democracy," said New Democrat MP Pat Martin.

It's unclear how the Green Party would be able to stage an effective cross-country campaign without the money, especially since they were unable to elect a single MP to Parliament.

To me this is inexcusable and must be stopped. $30 million is a drop in the bucket and it jeopardizes our democracy by compromising the ability of small parties to effectively campaign. It also just happens to hurt all of the other parties more than the Conservatives... that is just too convenient for my liking. I just now discovered a reason to truly despise the Conservatives again.