http://www.elections.ca/res/
On March 21, 2011 a House of Commons committee ruled that the Harper government was in contempt of Parliament – an offense against the authority or dignity of Parliament, including disobedience to its commands or libel against it or its Members. Punishment for such an offense may take a variety of forms, up to and including imprisonment.
On March 25, 2011 the finding of contempt led to a motion of non-confidence introduced by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. The NDP and BQ supported them, which resulted in the adjournment of the 40th Parliament of Canada, and made Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government the first to fall on a charge of contempt of Parliament.
The prime minister of a minority government only holds his or her office as long as the “confidence of the house” is maintained. If members of the lower house lose faith in the leader for whatever reason, they can call a vote of no confidence and force the PM to resign. Such a vote of no confidence was made against Stephen Harper on Friday March 25, 2011. That vote not only declared that Stephen Harper no longer had the confidence of the house but the house also found Stephen Harper guilty of the serious offense of contempt of parliament. Contempt of Parliament is the crime of obstructing the parliament in the carrying out of its functions, or of hindering any Member of Parliament in the performance of his or her duties.
NDP MP Don Davies is correct that the Conservatives won their majority in the pre-election campaign before the election was called.
In Canada pre-election campaign advertising is unregulated. The Conservatives won in the before the election was called with massive advertising. All they had to do was make sure corruption was not the only focus during the short election campaign. and they could carry their success in the pre-election to the polls. The removal of public political financing as has occurred in the June 6th budget will only lead to greater political favoritism and corruption of the public trust.
I bring to your attention the well documented findings of:
Corruption and democracy: Political finances - conflicts of interest - lobbying - justice (2008)
ISBN 978-92-871-6355-4
The Council of Europe Publishing
The effects of unregulated political financing is summarized on page 34. I also highly recommend reading the whole book.
At the same time, unregulated political finances carry considerable risks
- they exacerbate political inequality. The principle of "one person, one vote" is compromised by unequal influence bought through contributions. Financial contributions create an uneven playing field where big money (often coming from the corporate sector) has an undue advantage. Interested money may override equal voting rights and equal access to decision makers and elected office;
- political money may buy access to office and access to decision makers. Those in a position to contribute have a greater chance to be heard by political decision makers. And those able to finance political parties and electoral "pre-election" campaigns have bigger chance to secure places on election lists of established by political parties;
- elections may represent less a competition of political positions and ideas and more the ability of political parties and candidates to raise funds, leading to an arms or propaganda race disconnected from political debate;
- political parties and politicians risk being co-opted to represent and pursue particular interests rather than the common public interest. They are more accountable to those who pay than to their constituency. This risk is particularly great if parties rely on a small number of donors only. Parties relying on private funding may have a weaker connection to their voters and are less connected to party members. Party leaders may transform contributions into political capital to secure control over their party;
- unregulated political finances are not transparent. It is thus impossible for voters to determine whose interests politicians are representing, and to hold them accountable.
