Saskatchewan has the worst campaign finance rules in Canada. Here's the proof

[chuckChuck]

http://www.progressalberta.ca/worst_campaign_finance_rules_in_canada

Saskatchewan has the worst campaign finance rules in Canada. Here's the proof

We collected and analyzed the campaign finance rules of all 10 provinces so you don't have to.
November 01, 2016

It was a close contest for which province has the worst campaign finance laws.

British Columbia's Liberal Party is famous for soliciting donations from people and companies that are actually based abroad. And the rules between the two provinces are very similar.

Donations from out-of-province are allowed (only BC, Saskatchewan, PEI and Newfoundland allow this)
Donations from out-of-country are allowed
Unions and corporations are allowed to donate
There are no donation limits of any kind

But the one key difference that separates Saskatchewan from BC in the race to the bottom for Canada's worst campaign finance laws is a simple one. B.C. does not allow political donations from registered charities. In Saskatchewan registered charities can and do make political donations. In fact, since 2006 the Saskatchewan Party has accepted $11,643.04 from registered charities.

The one bright spot is that Saskatchewan does reimburse political parties and candidates for expenses if they meet a certain threshold of the popular vote. You might remember this idea from when Alberta's right wing lost their mind about it when it was floated earlier this year.

But don't just take our word for it when we say that Saskatchewan has the worst campaign finance laws in Canada. Here are the campaign finance rules for all of Canada's provinces.


Saskatchewan campaign finance rules
CORP/ union donations no limit
Personal donation limits non election none, also out of province donations allowed
Personal donation limits campaign period none
Spending limits before election none
Party spending limits Expense limit of $1,000,663.00 (3.88 x names on voters' list)
Candidate spending limit campaign Expense limit of 58,043.00 in south (3.88 x names of voters' list); 77,388.00 in north (7.71 x names on voters' list)
Disclosure limit >$250
Advertising limit (party) $195,407/ year
Ad limit (candidate) not specified
Fixed election dates yes
Annual Party Allowance no
Third Party spending on election No guidelines
Alberta campaign finance rules
CORP/ union donations Banned
Personal donation limits non election 15000 +1K constit
Personal donation limits campaign period 30000 -calendar period
Spending limits before election none
Party spending limits none
Candidate spending limit campaign none
Disclosure limit >$250
Advertising limit (party) none
Ad limit (candidate) none
Fixed election dates yes
Annual Party Allowance no
Third Party spending on election Must register expenses over $1000; cannot exceed donation limits of $15k in non-election year and $30k in election year


British Columbia campaign finance rules
CORP/ union donations no limit; donations banned for registered charities
Personal donation limits non election no limit; also accepts out of prov. donations
Personal donation limits campaign period none
Spending limits before election 60 days, $1.1 m
Party spending limits $4.6 million writ
Candidate spending limit campaign $73,218
Disclosure limit >$250
Advertising limit (party) none
Ad limit (candidate) none
Fixed election dates yes
Annual Party Allowance no
Third Party spending on election must register; limited to $3000 in single EDAs and $150K during election period (CPI adj)


Manitoba campaign finance rules
CORP/ union donations banned
Personal donation limits non election $3000 per year; no out of province
Personal donation limits campaign period none
Spending limits before election $6500 limit for ads per candidate outside election period; $268000 for parties outside elec period
Party spending limits $1.92xCPIxvoterslist 2 mo prior to election
Candidate spending limit campaign $2.91xCPIxvoterslist 2 mo prior to election
Disclosure limit >250
Advertising limit (party) $.99xnames on voter list for all candidates
Ad limit (candidate) $2.91xnames on voter list area of less than 30000sq miles; $4.64 x names for area of greater than 30000sq miles
Fixed election dates yes
Annual Party Allowance yes ($600K party cap)
Third Party spending on election must register over $500


Ontario campaign finance rules
CORP/ union donations $9975; plus $9975 campaign period
Personal donation limits non election $9,975
Personal donation limits campaign period additional $9,975; plus $6650 to riding assoc, but no more than $1,330 to a single assoc.
Spending limits before election
Party spending limits $.80 per elector
Candidate spending limit campaign $1.28 per elector; additional $9310 for northern candidates
Disclosure limit >100
Advertising limit (party)
Ad limit (candidate)
Fixed election dates yes
Annual Party Allowance Candidates get 20% of expenses with 15% of pop vote; parties, $.05 for each riding with 15% of pop vote
Third Party spending on election must register if spnding over $500; no spending limit


Quebec campaign finance rules
CORP/ union donations banned
Personal donation limits non election $100 to each party per calandar year; no anonymous
Personal donation limits campaign period additional $100 to each party
Spending limits before election
Party spending limits $.67x#ofelectorsv (CPI adj)
Candidate spending limit campaign $.71x#ofelectors; $.20 for the north (CPI adj)
Disclosure limit >50
Advertising limit (party) Free air time must be provided to all parties
Ad limit (candidate)
Fixed election dates yes
Annual Party Allowance $2.50 for each donation dollar received; $20K max; this is doubled for election period
Third Party spending on election must register; $300 max by private intervener; all ads must be marked; no ads after "order is issued"


Nova Scotia campaign finance rules
CORP/ union donations banned
Personal donation limits non election $5000 per year; no anonymous contributions
Personal donation limits campaign period no additional
Spending limits before election
Party spending limits $2.29x#of voters
Candidate spending limit campaign
Disclosure limit >$200
Advertising limit (party)
Ad limit (candidate)
Fixed election dates no
Annual Party Allowance
Third Party spending on election >500 must register; $10k spending max
Prince Edward Island campaign finance rules
CORP/ union donations no limit
Personal donation limits non election no limit
Personal donation limits campaign period no limit
Spending limits before election no limit
Party spending limits $6 x #ofelectors
Candidate spending limit campaign $1.75x#ofelectors; max $45k
Disclosure limit >250
Advertising limit (party)
Ad limit (candidate)
Fixed election dates yes
Annual Party Allowance Candidate: 15% pop vote, then $.75 for each elector; min $1500; Max $3000
Third Party spending on election


New Brunswick campaign finance rules
CORP/ union donations $6000 annual; plus 6000 to a candidate; no out of province donations
Personal donation limits non election $6000 annual; plus 6000 to a candidate
Personal donation limits campaign period
Spending limits before election
Party spending limits electorx$3.30/elector (CPI adj)
Candidate spending limit campaign electorsx1.31/elector (CPI adj)
Disclosure limit >100
Advertising limit (party) $35k limit prewrit; 2k for candidates
Ad limit (candidate)
Fixed election dates yes
Annual Party Allowance parties of 10 cand. Or more; formula (A-B)x(C/D) (basically a portion of pop vote and votes received)
Third Party spending on election register >$500; no limits
Newfoundland and Labrador campaign finance rules
CORP/ union donations No limits; No boundary restrictions
Personal donation limits non election No limits; No boundary restrictions
Personal donation limits campaign period No limits; No boundary restrictions
Spending limits before election
Party spending limits $4.304x#of voters (CPI adj); not less than $12k
Candidate spending limit campaign $3.125x#ofvoters (CPI adj); not less than $12k
Disclosure limit >100
Advertising limit (party)
Ad limit (candidate)
Fixed election dates yes
Annual Party Allowance 1/3 of expenses with 15% of pop vote
Third Party spending on election

[Hamloc]

I was just listening to Jack Mintz being interviewed this morning discussing how the Alberta NDP made changes to the royalty regime on conventional oil and gas after their royalty review that actually end up lowering what the government receives. Now Chuck2 does that mean the NDP have been bought off by big oil or maybe Jim Prentiss was right, math is difficult. As for your article about Brad Wall, still a fan. :-)

[chuckChuck]

Hamloc, what do you think on the campaign finance rules in Saskatchewan? I am not surprised you still like Brad Wall, but do you think Alberta oil companies should have a lot of political influence in Saskatchewan just because they can contribute alot of money to the Sask Party? Do you think that unlimited outside of the province donations are democratic? Try to stick to the questions at hand.

[Goodtime]

Who cares?

[redleaf]

Well I would have to agree the rules should've changed but geez how come it was never a problem during all the NDP years? And don't tell me they didn't accept out of province money.

[Hamloc]

So Chuck2 your unhappy I didn't answer your question. I guess I should have reprinted some long article written by someone else like you normally do.

[ShawnM]

As long as he gets enough money to stay in power for as long as he wants, I'm fine with it. We should be thanking our stars we have him protecting our interests. I lived through the NDP years, not going back!

[Braveheart]

I wish we in MB were lucky enough to have a Brad Wall. With every passing day Pallister looks more like NDP Lite.

[chuckChuck]

Wow! ShawnM wants a dictatorship or a one party state based on who has the most money? Goodness I guess some people prefer to let the corporations and the richest and most powerfull people make all the decisions for them.

I think you should consider running in the next election on that platform. It will be a winner no doubt. You might even want to consider assigning voting power based on the amount of income tax you pay, that way you will be sure that the those who earn more money have more say in how their tax dollars are spent.

[chuckChuck]

Hamloc Sorry I don't always answer directly but often someone else can explain it better than I can.

So I take it you are a supporter of the current campaign finance rules?

Got a give Steve Harper and Alberta credit as they made some changes at the Federal and Provincial level. I guess we are slow to catch on in Saskatchewan. And I have no doubt that the NDP took some out of province donations as well. I am not sure why they didn't tighten the rules up.

I guess the question is do you want the citizens of Saskatchewan to fund a fair campaign and elect the party and leader they choose or do you want the government of the day to beholding to the interests of others who may or may not share your vision of what is best.

Try to to think beyond the next election or two as this can go many directions. Would you be happy if the NDP were to get elected based on substantial campaign funding that came from international environmental organizations or anti-oil activists?

[Hamloc]

This debate is undoubtably devided on ideological lines. As an Albertan I have pipelines opposed by enviromental groups proven to be funded by the Tides foundation and other groups from the US. So if I was a left leaning voter in Saskatchewan I would not be impressed by pro oil funding coming from Alberta. Since the election of the NDP in Alberta the wife and I have seriously considered moving to Saskatchewan but haven't pulled the plug yet. If I was a large oil company I would certainly help support the only pro business Premier in Canada.

[ShawnM]

Touch a nerve there Chucky? Haha

Like it or not, this world operates on the Golden Rule:

Those with the gold, make the rules

[Guest]

Hamloc Sorry I don't always answer directly but often someone else can explain it better than I can.

So I take it you are a supporter of the current campaign finance rules?

Got a give Steve Harper and Alberta credit as they made some changes at the Federal and Provincial level. I guess we are slow to catch on in Saskatchewan. And I have no doubt that the NDP took some out of province donations as well. I am not sure why they didn't tighten the rules up.

I guess the question is do you want the citizens of Saskatchewan to fund a fair campaign and elect the party and leader they choose or do you want the government of the day to beholding to the interests of others who may or may not share your vision of what is best.

Try to to think beyond the next election or two as this can go many directions. Would you be happy if the NDP were to get elected based on substantial campaign funding that came from international environmental organizations or anti-oil activists?

you're in the wrong place chuck, this is a bunch of farmers , who don't ever want to see those pricks back in power in this province ever ....... every govt is beholding to someone , ie NDP - unions

[perfecho]

Hammy...lots of theories out there that the pipeline opposition is paid for by the US powers, such as Rockefellers....they don't want competition overseas.....it sounds great to say free enterprise, but the outlier is....few in control....and even fewer with the wealth.

[chuckChuck]

Hamloc, don't bother moving to Saskatchewan. The NDP in Alberta will be one term only. And by the time you get to Saskatchewan you may end up with an NDP government anyway.

Most governments have a limited lifespan and defeat themselves. While many of the hardcore will support the Sask Party no matter what, there are a lot of swing voters in Regina and Saskatoon.

Its easy to govern during the good times but a lot harder when you have to cut programs and sell off the Crowns to balance the books.