Make no mistake that there are a lot of businesses giving rather generously to Saskatchewan Party leadership hopefuls these days.
It may not be all that untoward, but it’s something we should be watching.
After all, this is a small province and the ability for businesses to influence government is great — especially at this precarious time where various leadership camps need money for their bids.
Admittedly, we need some way to finance the democratic process. Short of doing so directly with our tax dollars — an issue that invariably leads to questions about how much each party should get and whether it’s actually fair to fund them strictly based on electoral performance.
Allowing people to donate to a cause they believe in still seems right.
However, maybe the time has come for limitations on the amount of money any individual, corporation or union you can give to political parties. Other jurisdictions have adopted such limits.
And if such limitations were applied to political parties, they could be easily extended to internal party leadership races.
The NDP — now out of power and with little to lose, give how far they behind the fund-raising game compared with the Sask. Party — wants to go a step further.
After benefitting from both big union money and corporate money, it now wants union/corporate money out of politics altogether.
Again, one can only wonder if that goes too far.
That said, when one breaks down where the Sask. Party leadership hopefuls money is coming from, it is a bit telling. Consider the amount of money raised by each as of Oct. 31 — the party’s deadline for the first round of donation disclose:
Ken Cheveldayoff, $177,528 raised, 83 per cent from corporate donations, 10 per cent from individuals more than $250, seven per cent from individuals donating less than $250; Scott Moe, $138,366 raised, 49 per cent from corporation donations, 45 per cent from individuals giving more than $250, seven per cent from individuals less than $250; Alanna Koch, $132,023 raised, 38 per cent from corporate donations, five per cent in lieu of donations from corporations, 50 per cent from donations more than $250, and five per cent from donations less than $250, and; Gord Wyant, $11,181 raised, 66 per cent from corporate donations, 29 per cent from individuals more than $250, and five per cent from individuals donated less than $250.
Tina Beaudry-Mellor’s campaign has been the most modest $34,424 — $15,000 of which came from her husband’s law firm. Also noteworthy is that Rob Clarke, who officially entered the raise last week, has yet to disclose his donation numbers.
Of course, this doesn’t exactly tell the entire story, either.
Excluding Beaudry-Mellor’s lower total,the top four candidates are all past or near the halfway mark of the maximum $250,000 each can spend. That suggests each has strong support and organization.
Cheveldyoff’s camp has the most corporation donations, but he also has less from the oil industry that can be in potential conflict with any government.
Moe’s camp has the most donors and he was quick to lay claim to having the most grassroots campaign. However, Moe has a lot coming from oil companies and also the biggest single donation — $25,000 from the Estevan-based Panteluk family that has one a lot of construction business with the province.
Koch’s donation list seems the most balanced, but generous contributions from both long-time Sask. Party movers and shakers. Moreover, companies involving one single Regina businessman account for about 40 per cent of her money so far.
Again, there may be nothing wrong with this, but it does raise suspicions.
And perhaps the time has come to put limits on such donations once and for all
