[Rerun]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

As a partial answer: public funding for political parties assures a baseline ability for all parties to participate in the democratic process. It's particularly crucial for the smallest parties which have less resources with which to fundraise, and ultimately allows them to participate and to contribute to our democracy.

Additionally, it prevents the wealthy from having a disproportionate say in the democratic process. Assuming that every voter votes with his or her own best interests in mind, one can assume that wealthy voters would vote for and contribute to parties which have policies favouring the wealthy. To borrow a figure from the US, 95% of the wealth lies in the hands of 5% of the population, so that 5% will be able to contribute more and exert a disproportionate influence on the democratic process for their own benefit. Public funding provides at least some safeguard against that, ensuring parties with support from lower income earners are able to make their voices heard, even if they can't afford to shout quite as loudly.

You are wrong...

As per Elections Canada Website :

As of January 1, 2007, new rules for political contributions under the Canada Elections Act come into force:

• You can make a political donation to registered political entities only if you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
• You can give no more than $1,100* in each calendar year to each registered political party.
• You can give no more than $1,100* in total in any calendar year to the various entities of each registered political party (registered associations, nomination contestants and candidates).
• You can give no more than $1,100* to each independent candidate for a particular election.
• You can give no more than $1,100* in total to the leadership contestants in a particular leadership contest.
• You can no longer make a cash contribution of more than $20 to registered political entities.
• You cannot make a political contribution with money, property or services that were given to you for that purpose.
• Corporations, trade unions, associations and groups can no longer make political contributions. However, your employer can give you a paid leave of absence during an election period to allow you to be a nomination contestant or a candidate without that leave being considered a contribution.
• If you are running as a nomination contestant or a candidate, you can make an additional contribution up to $1,000 in total per election from your own funds to your own campaign. You can divide this amount between your nomination and candidate campaigns as you wish.
• If you are running as a party leadership contestant, you can make an additional contribution of up to $1,000 in total per contest from your own funds to your own campaign.

*The Act provides for maximum contribution limits of $1,000, subject to an inflation adjustment on April 1 of each year. On January 1, 2007, these limits are $1,100. For more information on contribution limits, go to www.elections.ca

http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?...textonly=false

Frankly, I don't think $1,100 buys you much influence.