Now why doesn't this surprise me? I seem to be picking on government a lot lately but boy have they made it easy with all the negative press making the headlines.
The latest in the long line of misgivings... Apparently the head of Elections Canada is urging the federal government to "bring down the hammer" on Liberal candidates who to date have not repaid their campaign loans (from the 2006 election!) That's seven years ago and we're not talking $50 loans, we're talking almost $400,000 worth!
Reportedly one candidate (not to mention names ahem... but former MP Ken Dryden who is now an officer of the Order of Canada - whatever that means) owes a whopping $225,000!!! Another owes $97,800, another $69,000 and it even trickles down to the former leader of the Liberal Party, Stephane Dion, who has yet to pay back $7,500. He claims he wasn't aware he owed the money but are we really to believe that?
Short of declaring bankruptcy, in what reality could the rest of us Canadians get away with leaving outstanding debts in these amounts unsettled? We wouldn't, end of story.
While there are laws in place that say the loans need to be repaid, according to our Chief Electoral Officer, Marc Mayrand, the system is far too lax and something needs to be done to change it. I would have to agree. Supposedly failure to repay can result in penalties upwards of $1,000 and three months in jail but obviously there must be some loopholes and plenty of leniency.
As such, Mayrand is calling for a reform in the election law. "It is clear that the leadership contestants who continue to have unpaid debts from the Liberal Party of Canada's 2006 leadership contest are not in compliance with the Canada Elections Act," he says. "However, the Act, as currently drafted, does not provide a means by which these contestants can be sanctioned or compelled to repay their outstanding debts." The $400,000 is minor in the grand scheme of things. Unpaid loans extend to hundreds of past candidates (many of whom now hold seats in parliament) and millions of dollars worth of unpaid debt.
Why do we stand for this?
It's time for some clean up in Ottawa apparently it will be up to you and I to ensure it happens.
