Brian Mason and Alberta's NDP want to eliminate the influence of big money on politics - that means ending political donations from business and union groups.
Liberals and Tories are dependant upon millions of dollars in donations from big oil companies and other large corporations. How can we trust them to look out for our environment when they are so tied to business?
Those who pay the piper call the tune. Allowing big money to buy influence with cabinet ministers and politicians distorts our democracy. A party that accepts funding from big oil, big polluters and big landlords is on their side. I'm on the side of middle class Albertans.
- Brian Mason
Follow the money:
See where the Liberals and Tories get their money and how much.
Liberals and Conservatives are on the side of the big oil companies and other large corporations who donate to their parties.
In 2006, Liberals and Conservatives received over $1.7 million from corporations - unlike the NDP, who received less than 3% of donations from businesses.
- In 2006, the Conservatives took $39,000 from Alberta's top eight polluters, while the Liberals took $15,250. How can we trust these parties to look out for our environment instead of looking out for their donors?
- In 2005 the Liberals and Conservatives rewarded their corporate pals by teaming up to vote against an NDP motion that would have cancelled a $370 million corporate tax cut.
- The Liberals and Conservatives have been reluctant to address long overdue increases to our royalty regime, changes that would ensure Albertans get the benefits of our energy resources without giving them away for a song. No doubt the reluctance has to do with the fact the parties accept hundreds of thousands in donations from big oil every year.
Brian Mason and Alberta's NDP are on the side of banning big money from politics
Getting big money out of politics is not rocket science. Manitoba, Quebec and the federal government have already eliminated corporate and union donations. Alberta's NDP has a plan to:
- Prohibit political donations from corporations and unions to political parties.
- Table legislation binding all leadership and nomination contests to the same disclosure rules and donation limits of federal political parties.
