On February 16, several campaign finance bills were introduced in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

Introduced as a private member’s bill by British Columbia’s New Democratic Party Leader John Horgan, the “Get Big Money Out of Politics Act” legislation bans union and corporate donations to political campaigns, allows only individuals normally residing in British Columbia to make political contributions, and restricts the premier and cabinet ministers from outside income.

Member of the Legislative Assembly Vicki Huntington’s bill, “Cash for Access Elimination Act, 2017,” prohibits members of the Executive Council and their employees from attending fundraising functions, personally soliciting political contributions, or attending or inviting individuals and organizations to attend fundraising functions. Huntington also submitted to the Assembly the “Election Finance Amendment Act, 2017,” which bans corporate and union donations, caps political donations at $1,500 a year, and allows them to be received only from British Columbians. The Local Elections Campaign Financing Act is also amended by this bill.

Additional bills introduced yesterday include the “Banning Publicly-funded Campaign Advertisements, 2017,” which bans government advertising during the four months preceding a general election, the “Fairness in Financing Local Government Elections Act, 2017,” which amends the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act to eliminate union and corporate donations in municipal election campaigns, and the “Fixed Fall Election Amendment Act, 2017,” which amends the Constitution Act to move the general election from May to October.

On February 16, the “Lobbyist Registry Reform Act, 2017,” was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

The bill restricts publicly funded organizations from pursuing lobbying activities, legislates a cooling off period of two years for public office holders and their staff and advisors, and calls for a review of the lobbying act every five years.

The legislation is a part of a package of campaign finance and ethics bills introduced by the New Democratic Party.

On July 8, Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson will conclude her appointed position with Canada’s federal ethics agency. Dawson has chosen not to seek reappointment as commissioner, according to The Hill Times.

Some critics had argued the possibility of a reappointment could have influenced Dawson’s impartiality with inquiries into the current Liberal government. Her appointment was to have ended in the summer of 2016, but was twice temporarily extended by the Liberal government.

Besides administering the federal conflict of interest laws for public office holders and members of the House of Commons, the Office of the Conflict and Ethics Commissioner provides confidential advice to the prime minister about conflicts of interest and ethics issues.

Rob Altemeyer, caucus chair for Manitoba’s New Democratic Party (NDP), will step down to focus more on issues within his constituency and his impending wedding.

Altemeyer’s resignation follows a lengthy two-day caucus discussion of a sexual harassment accusation against fellow NDP member Mohinder Saran.

Altemeyer stated he will remain the caucus chair until the NDP chooses a replacement.

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On January 1, the Election Finances Statute Law Amendment Act took effect, prohibiting political contributions from corporations and labor unions and lowering the province’s contribution limits from individuals.

The new law also prohibits all provincial politicians, candidates, and senior political staffers from attending fundraising events, with certain exceptions.

Third-parties, who currently face no spending restrictions on advertising, are now limited to $100,000 per election period and $600,000 in the six months before a general election is called.

Lobbying

Florida: “Corcoran Offers Lobbyist ‘Training’ to Adjust to New Legislative Limitations” by Allison Nielson for Sunshine State News

West Virginia: “Ethics Panel Puts Question about WV House Speaker’s Job on Hold” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Campaign Finance

Canada: “Ontario Overhauls Campaign Finance Rules with Sweeping Reforms” by Adrian Morrow for Toronto Globe and Mail

Arizona: “Burns Responds to APS Settlement Offer: No thanks” by Rachel Leingang for Arizona Capitol Times

Missouri: “Politicians Fatten Coffers before Missouri’s New Campaign-Donation Limits Kick In” by Jo Mannies for St. Louis Public Radio

New York: “Anthony Weiner Fined $65,000 for Campaign Finance Violations” by J. David Goodman for The New York Times

Ethics

“Trump’s Complex Stock Portfolio Could Create Yet More Conflicts” by Rosalind Helderman and Drew Harwell for The Washington Post

South Dakota: “Hearing Set on Move to Repeal New Anti-Corruption Measure” by Bob Mercer for Rapid City Journal

Elections

“‘Rigged’ or Not, Election Positions Trump to Shape Rules on How You Vote” by Michael Wines for The New York Times

The NDP government in Alberta introduced legislation to limit what individuals can donate to political campaigns and limit the amount each party can spend during an election. Individuals would be limited to $4,000 in the aggregate per calendar year when giving to parties, constituency associations, candidates, leadership hopefuls, and nomination contests.

The proposals would also affect third-parties; such groups are similar to political action committees in the United States. Third-parties would only be permitted to spend $150,000 on advertisements each election period, with only $3,000 of those funds earmarked to support or oppose candidates. There would be no limits on third party spending outside of elections.

The Election Finances Statute Law Amendment Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly on December 1, 2016. It was introduced after an investigation into pay-to-play fundraising and cash for access scandals.

The investigation revealed that corporations and lobbyists had spent up to $10,000 to buy time with cabinet members in seeking policy decisions and contracts. The new amendment will prohibit all provincial politicians, candidates, and senior political staffers from attending fundraising events and ban contributions from corporations and unions.

In addition to these prohibitions, donations from individuals are limited to $1,200 per political party annually, down from $9,975 under the current system. Third-parties, who currently face no spending restrictions on advertising, will be capped at $100,000 per election period and $600,000 in the six months before a general election is called. A spending cap will also be placed on political party advertising at $1 million in the six months before a general election is called.

The bill was passed despite negative feedback regarding loopholes in the legislation. It will go into effect on January 1, 2017.

Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd will not seek reappointment when her current term expires at the end of December. Shepherd has been the commissioner since the creation of the position in 2008.

The Governor in Council will appoint a new commissioner after consulting with the leader of every recognized party in the Senate and House of Commons.

Following the consultation, the Senate and House of Commons must approve the appointment by resolution.

Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd says her office is investigating Liberal Party fundraisers to see if they violate the Lobbying Act.

Opposition members of Parliament argue the fundraisers are “pay to play” and violate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ethic guidelines.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson stated the fundraisers do not violate the Conflict of Interest Act, but she believes the practice to be unsavory and is calling for changes to Canada’s laws to restrict the practice.

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.

On October 7, Premier Darrell Pasloski announced Yukon’s general election to elect the 34th Yukon Legislative Assembly will be held on November 7, 2016. Pasloski also directed Yukon’s Commissioner Doug Philips to dissolve the 33rd Legislative Assembly and to issue the writs of election.

The November election period will extend from October 7, the date the writ was issued, to the return date of the writ, which will occur on Monday, November 14.

The provincial government cancelled the fall 2016 legislative session on the day it was scheduled to begin. Another session is not intended until February ahead of the May 9, 2017,  general election.

The Official Opposition is calling for the Legislature to meet in October to introduce the 2017 provincial budget and to address funding to remedy the current housing crisis and loopholes in the province’s rent control laws.

This is the third time in five years the fall session has been cancelled.

Photo of the main block of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings by Ryan Bushby on Wikimedia Commons.