Liberals Scolded by Elections Canada and Learn that 'The Sky is No Longer the Limit'!

Apparently, before the Liberals were able to hold their swanky (yet clearly illegal fundraiser) last night at the Ottawa Congress Centre, Elections Canada informed them that it was, in fact, in direct contravention of the Canada Elections Act.

The Liberals hastily changed the rules of the auction to no longer allow corporations to bid as well as to limit bids to the maximum allowed by the Act ($1100). Since the entry price was $150, the maximum bid possible was $950 (and that is assuming the individual in question had not donated any money so far in 2008).

I have a few friends who are Liberals, and one of them went to the revised event last night. Apparently there were about 100 guests (not including MPs) who would have paid for tickets. Here are what the auction items went for:

Golf with Paul Martin - $1000
Lunch with Iggy and a set of signed books - $650
Lunch with Justin Trudeau - $550
Tennis with Bob and John Rae - $400
Breakfast with Romeo Dallaire- $350
Tickets to the Hockey Game with Ken Dryden - $300 (there were 15 of them for a total of $4500)
Dinner with Carolyn Bennett and her husband - $250

Now we know exactly what the Liberals are worth, and it isn't much!

My favourite part of this scandal is that the meager proceeds now have to be split among 8 different ridings! Assuming they sold 100 tickets, the night would have made approximately $22700. Divided by 8 ridings is less than $2900 each! Renting out the Congress Centre can't be cheap, so I wonder how much of a profit that actually got to make last night.

Liberal Fundraiser to Break Elections Canada Laws??

This evening, the Liberal party of Canada is holding a fancy fundraiser at the Ottawa Congress Centre at a pricy $150 per ticket, featuring Leader Stephane Dion and the Liberal Caucus Members and Candidates.

The event also includes an auction which clearly contravenes laws on political donations. Items include a golf game with Paul Martin, watching hockey with Ken Dryden, tennis with Bob Rae, lunch with Michael Ignatieff, lunch with Justin Trudeau, and lunch with Scott Brison.

The invitation also says the following:

"The sky is your limit during this auction!
A successful bid is not a political contribution and is not eligible for a receipt for income tax purposes. Your successful bid will not affect your annual political contribution limit of $1100. As such, individuals, partnerships, corporations, and associations are free to bid as high as they want. We greatly appreciate your support for this fundraising activity!"

How can the Liberal party justify thinking that the auction does not count as a political donation?

Furthermore, for all of the politicians and former cabinet ministers participating in the auction items, does that not count as a donation which would put them over their political contribution limit for this year?

For more information, see the following story from the Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/
LAC.20080213.DONATIONS13/TPStory/National

Can Parliament Please Stop Paying Liberal MPs?

Liberal MPs should start forfeiting portions of their salary after their latest incidence of failing to do their jobs as they are supposed to.

MPs are paid by the government of Canada to actually do their jobs and represent their constituents, including being present for votes and taking a stand on issues. Indignantly walking out of the House of Commons because things aren't going your way is neither mature nor appropriate.

This is only the latest in a series of incidents in which the Liberals opted to sit out of votes rather than take a definitive stance. Remember how Stephane Dion complained about the latest budget? Well he clearly didn't oppose it enough to vote against it - he and his entire caucus abstained from voting.

The Liberals need to start behaving like grownups and actually do the jobs which they are being paid for.

Happy Two Years in Government!!

Today marks the second anniversary of the Conservative Government! Yay!

Although the Conservative Party of Canada won the election on January 23, 2006, it was not until February 6, 2006 that Stephen Harper was sworn in as Canada's current Prime Minister and the cabinet was sworn in to become Canada's government. Some of the faces in Canada's cabinet have changed over the last two years, but we remain a strong, principled, and committed government.

I am proud of the government and I look forward to seeing the Conservatives continue to govern until October 2009!