Back in the spring, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne grudgingly announced that the province would overhaul its electoral fundraising rules. Initially, the Liberals defended the notion that wealthy donors should have exclusive access to the province’s decision-makers as just “part of the democratic process,” but they eventually capitulated to mounting public pressure and declared that they would draft campaign finance reform legislation. So while corporate donations might indeed be banned, and individual donations limited to $3,600, essentially anyone can still donate virtually as much as they want, just so long as they sign a card indicating whether they prefer chicken or fish. With the omission of any mention now of dialing back cash-for-access fundraisers, it’s clear that they either see nothing wrong with selling access to themselves — it’s all out in the open now, after all — or they simply don’t care how bad it looks. Those who have an issue with that can take it up with the premier at her next $10,000-per-plate fundraiser.

Source: National Post August 25, 2016 14:48 UTC