Donations to Alberta Tories linked to election promises

[Azure]

A representative of a coalition of construction companies and anti-union contractors lobbied Premier Alison Redford by linking large political donations to Redford and to the provincial Conservative party with political promises to revise Alberta’s labour code, according to documents obtained through Freedom of Information.

“In my opinion, they are essentially saying, ‘Our donations are given in return for government action on specific issues,’” said Duff Conacher, founder of Democracy Watch, an Ottawa-based watchdog group.

“They are saying their donations are connected to those actions, and dependent on those actions,” said Conacher, who is also an adjunct law professor at the University of Toronto. “And that, I think, in my opinion, crosses the line in the Criminal Code bribery provisions.”

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...-promises.html

Always nice. What is this, the US?

[Major Major]

Nenshi for Premier

[Jacks]

That doesn't matter, the real question is what would the Wildrose have done?

[GGG]

I don't find this that bad because

- The donations were made legally
- Redford Campaigned on revising the labour code during the leadership race and election campaign.

It is a slippery slope you walk down with campaign donations which is why the limit should be greatly reduced. As long as Redford and the PC's legislate based on issues they campaign on it is not so bad.

As for the outrage over the donators wanting to control policy I think is kind of ridiculous. Everyone who donates wants to control policy. That is the point of making a political donation. Even on the individual level if you donate to a political party it is because you want to influence the election result more than your vote can. YOu think that your money can help the party you want in win.

The main focus of all of these issues should be campaign financing reform.

[FlamesAddiction]

This is what politics is. Always has been and always will be.

The Americans never had a monopoly on this behaviour.

[Free Ben Hur!]

Hard to believe its PCL, Flint and Ledcor that are involved ....

[You Need a Thneed]

This happens everywhere that there is democracy. It sounds like this is within the rules.

Wenzel et al didn't stay within the rules.


Keeping unions out of the construction industry here is also a really really good idea.

[burn_this_city]

Flint made an $850 donation, hardly anything.

[Senator Clay Davis]

If Nenshi runs he'll win. He'll carry Calgary and Edmonton and that will be that. Much, much better option than any of the current 4 available.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

If Nenshi runs he'll win. He'll carry Calgary and Edmonton and that will be that. Much, much better option than any of the current 4 available.

Interestingly, I think you could say the same of Mandel. I dunno if either of them would want to operate within the confines of the PCs/WRP though.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Azure

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...-promises.html

Always nice. What is this, the US?

I find this just as distasteful as the situation in Calgary.

There can not be a 'quid pro quo' on donations.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by SebC

Interestingly, I think you could say the same of Mandel. I dunno if either of them would want to operate within the confines of the PCs/WRP though.

I just don't see Mandel going for provincial politics. Never met him, but just my own knee-jerk reaction, and the fact he is 67 and people are speculating he is getting to tired for politics.

[GP_Matt]

In my mind, the difference between right and wrong is the order of events.
If the PC's announced their plans and it attracted donations then I think it is okay. If they received donations and then announced plans that benefit the donors then it is shady.

If they accept the money, say nothing and then announce $100 million in funding for a new arena to benefit their largest contributor then it looks criminal.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by SebC

Interestingly, I think you could say the same of Mandel. I dunno if either of them would want to operate within the confines of the PCs/WRP though.

There are other parties .... ones that they would likely be a better fit with.

Nenshi could actually pull the Liberals out of their lagging position.

Originally Posted by longsuffering

I find this just as distasteful as the situation in Calgary.

There can not be a 'quid pro quo' on donations.

You and I may disagree a great deal, but I want to say I appreciate that you are at least consistent on this.

I found Duane Bratt's comments on the two situations so dissapointing (hypocritical even).... he refered to the PC situation as "lobbying and normal course of politics" and yet the Calgary situation a "smoking gun".

[SebC]

Originally Posted by First Lady

There are other parties .... ones that they would likely be a better fit with.

Nenshi could actually pull the Liberals out of their lagging position.

You have far more faith in the Liberals' electability than I do.

I don't see either of them fitting with the WRP at all (nor do I see any opening there in the near future), but the PCs are so broad-based and short on leadership that I think if one of them were to jump to provincial, PC could be a decent fit.

It doesn't make sense for Nenshi/Mandel to move to provincial unless its to be Premier.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by SebC

You have far more faith in the Liberals' electability than I do.

I said, pull them out of lagging position - not into majority..

Nenshi would be 100X better than Raj for the Liberals.

[Makarov]

What is the actual wrongdoing on the part of the PCs alleged here? I suppose they really should not have accepted the donations if they were explicitly told that the donations were being made with certain expectations? That is how I think that they should have handled the situation anyway.

[Azure]

I doubt it would make much of a difference. Alberta is so heavily entrenching in the PCs that it would take an outright miracle for them to vote for anyone else.

Years of incompetence obviously isn't enough.

[Rathji]

You are right, Nenshi should run for PC leadership.