Quote:
Originally Posted by julia
hey michelem-
Since you are Canadian would you mind telling usl how elections are financed in Canada?
I believe most other "developed" countries have some sort of public financing or at least spending caps on elections.
Thanks.  |
Oh girl, you caught me right off guard.
Think, now?
Yes, there's public financing, though there have been whispers that there's a lot more lobbying going on than we realize: the public purse has its limits.
Candidates need less money than American candidates do. From what I read on Maher's board, US politicians have to spend a huge amount of time getting backing from lobby groups to finance their campaigns. It probably goes on here, too, but not to such a degree (not even close), and not openly. There's a fine line these guys have to walk to avoid conflict of interest charges, and if they're caught rewarding companies for campaign donations, the fur hits the fan.
Now I have to go hunting to see who it is paying for election ads when they hit the airwaves, I don't want to give you the wrong info.
I don't know if that helps answer your question, T-Cat would have such a beautifully concise reply.