"NDP leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair says he was never told of an internal NDP policy requiring MPs to contribute at least $1,000 a year to federal NDP coffers.
Moreover, Mulcair says he never told any of the candidates he recruited in Quebec that minimum annual donations to the federal NDP were part of the deal if they were elected."
"
Candidates who run for the NDP in elections are required to sign an agreement with the party acknowledging their responsibilities should they win a seat in the House of Commons.
“I understand that all New Democrat Members of Parliament are required to contribute $1,000.00 annually to the Federal Office of the New Democratic Party,” one clause of the agreement says, according to the 2006 version of the agreement form.
The amount of the mandatory donation has since increased to reflect changes to the maximum allowable contribution, rising to $1,100 in 2007."
Interesting. So the NDP is basically stating that the party is entitled to at least $1000 per year from NDP candidates who are successful running in an election. So those 100+ NDP MP's are now required to pony up minimum $4000 over the next four years to the party. So MP's get a salary paid through taxpayers, the NDP siphons off $1000 per year from each MP, and the MP gets a tax-writeoff, again on the backs of Canadian taxpayers.
My question is, does Elections Canada feel this is legal, people being forced to donate? Seems a little extreme to me. MP's donate (funds go in), MP's get a tax-break (monies go out).
Other parties have the same unwritten rule. Although not legally enforceable, MP's are generally expected to support their party by maxing out annual donations to the party. They were elected under that party's banner, it's a way of repaying the favour and ensuring the party's viability.
ReplyDeleteExcept in this case it's written: "
ReplyDeleteCandidates who run for the NDP in elections are required to sign an agreement with the party acknowledging their responsibilities should they win a seat in the House of Commons.
“I understand that all New Democrat Members of Parliament are required to contribute $1,000.00 annually to the Federal Office of the New Democratic Party,” one clause of the agreement says, according to the 2006 version of the agreement form.
The amount of the mandatory donation has since increased to reflect changes to the maximum allowable contribution, rising to $1,100 in 2007.
And that would be 103 thousand dollars/yr to run their party. Times 4 that is a lot of money. But, they never knew that, didn't read the agreement, signed without reading. Why are we surprised at this, considering they throw questions and statements out without doing any research.
ReplyDelete$103,000, than the tax refund MP's get to boot. What's the % for political donations again?
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing to donate to your party because it's the right thing to do but it's an entirely different thing to have it in your 'job description'......A bit like Union Dues?
ReplyDeletePut up and shutup!
Did Mulcair himself give this amount to the party in the past year? Thought I say a report that he gave ZERO - ZIP - NADA!!! So while all those other NDP MPs, loyally gave as per the agreement - Mulcair - dual citizen - was above it all. Too funny. Another sour pickle Quebec sandwich - not very tasty and definitely not good to look at!!! lol Cheers.
ReplyDeleteWhen you add this Mulcair "cheapness" to the rest of the off-putting package--eg LPQ roots, dual citizenship, even his excessive facial hair--I just can't see the Dipper faithful electing him. As a donor to the CPC, this kind of revelation (from a future CPC leadership candidate) would be a big deal to me. (Note that Mr & Mrs Harper have each donated the maximum every year there are records in the Elections Canada Database)
ReplyDeleteHis not donating is highly symbolic, and speaks volumes about Mulcair's level of commitment to the Party. And when he starts making lame excuses (like he didn't know about the rule), then he is just insulting my intelligence.
I see history repeating somewhat, as at the 2006 Liberal convention--outsider and newcomer Iggy couldn't close the deal with the LPC faithful. Mulcair will have the same problem. I expect the Dipper tribe to close ranks around one of their own--a long time, true orange believer like maybe Peggy Nash.
It might not be very ethical to force M.P.s to pony up. However, I think the N.D.P. have far more serious problems than this. It is kind of a non-story.
ReplyDeleteTo fernstalbert ...Mulcair shorted party donations
ReplyDeleteAnnual financial reports filed with Elections Canada records show no sign Mulcair made contributions to the federal party in 2008, 2009 and 2010
I just did a quick search on the EC database for any "mulcair" donating to the NDP, for the first three quarters of 2011, and the annuals for 2004 to 2010 ... and found:
A Catherine Pinhas-Mulcair donated $400 on Dec 31st, 2010. She lives in Beaconsfield, Quebec.
Also from the above article:
"Mulcair told iPolitics he wanted to keep his donations in Quebec so he gave instead to his riding association."
The guy has been spinning madly in all directions.
Note the disconnect between these two statements attributed to Mulcair:
ReplyDelete1. "NDP leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair says he was never told of an internal NDP policy requiring MPs to contribute at least $1,000 a year to federal NDP coffers.
2. Mulcair told iPolitics he wanted to keep his donations in Quebec so he gave instead to his riding association."
INSTEAD !!! .... hmmmm, the guy is
spinning out of control.
As all MPs make enough that they would pay federal tax, they could get a non refundable credit for this donation, reducing their tax payable by x amount.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there are many that make donations that they can't get the credit for as they do not have to pay federal tax.
And then you have people that do donate but do not claim it as they don't want anyone to know who they support.