October 28, 2016 •
Amendments Offered to Ontario Campaign Finance Bill
On October 26, new amendments were offered to a contentious bill moving through the Legislative Assembly of Ontario banning corporate political contributions.
Bill 2, Election Finances Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016, was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in September to amend the current campaign finance laws. The bill prohibits corporations, unions, and unincorporated groups not affiliated with political parties from making political contributions to parties, candidates, constituency associations, and nomination and leadership contestants.
According the National Post, new amendments introduced by Ontario’s Liberal government would prohibit any members of the provincial parliament, party leaders, nomination contestants, candidates, and leadership contestants from attending fundraisers, with certain exceptions. Opponents of the bill say those exceptions provide loopholes.
Other changes in the bill are disclosure requirements for political parties concerning fundraisers.
If passed, the law would come into force on January 1, 2017.
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