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Jason Kenney's UCP has gutted municipal election rules. We're basically back to the same situation as we've always had. Wealthy individuals and companies (through third party campaigns) can pour vast sums of money into campaigns. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/new-bill-removes-limits-on-donations-to-trustee-municipal-candidates-in-alberta-1.5625799
A common scenario in the past was for wealthy folks - frequently wealthy people with a financial interest in the election outcome - can donate through multiple family members and cover $10K - $20K+ for each of multiple candidates.
The third party rules are even more concerning. The same wealthy individuals could fund a massive third party ad campaign with their company(s). One wealthy family with a financial interest in particular candidates winning could potential put 100s of thousands into the election.
Of course, UCP says the new rules put non-wealthy people on a level playing field.. Hahahaha
Yep, as long as you have $5,000 (per family member) to donate to each of multiple candidates, we're all on a level playing field!!
Yep, as long as you have $5,000 (per family member) to donate to each of multiple candidates, we're all on a level playing field!!
I expect that this will be the most expensive election of all time in Alberta.
Wealthy Albertans only get one vote, but they now again have infinitely more influence than everyone else. Worse, those who want to gain financially from an election have a straightforward path.
Wealthy Albertans only get one vote, but they now again have infinitely more influence than everyone else. Worse, those who want to gain financially from an election have a straightforward path.
We know that UCP makes most decisions through an intensely political lens and this decision is the same. They feel that they benefit from having municipal officials who are ideologically aligned with them. They changed the rules to benefit that group.
End of the day, these rules are actually very similar to the rules in the previous election. Although companies won't be able to donate this time, I don't expect that will change the numbers significantly. The people who make really big donations got everything they wanted.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if some wealthy people, companies and organizations (especially those who have a financial interest in the election) are celebrating today as this is likely a larger change in favour of this group than any of them expected.
The comments from the Minister today are very Trump-like, and consistent with the Kenney government's communications style. Blatantly false statements are made to the media, exploiting a loophole where the media feels required to report the comments verbatim, without commentary.
As a result of this loophole, many people will read this statement and believe that the new rules are more fair for regular (non-wealthy) Albertans.... or at least they will allow for the benefit of the doubt. But there is no doubt, these changes massively favour the wealthy.
And again, in particular, these changes favour those (people and companies) who have a perceived or real financial interest in the outcome of the election. Municipalities are responsible for many regulations, and these people and orgs want to influence those regulations.
