October 25, 2011

Mr. Anderson: Mr. Speaker, we have recently learned that some PC Party constituency associations have been accepting illegal donations from municipalities and school boards. I have personally spoken with mayors who say that they have been personally intimidated by PC Party officials into purchasing and making donations to fundraisers. This is pretty cut and dried; it’s illegal, and it’s unethical. To the Premier. She’s the one sitting right there. Will she commit to ensuring that all funds illegally donated to the PC Party over the last several years are returned to these donors without delay?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, there are a number of allegations being thrown around. As usual, whether or not we can verify them is something that is really up in the air. What I will say and what

I’ve said from the very beginning since I became leader of this party is that that isn’t a practice that we condone, and if there was any reason to think that there was that problem, we’d certainly encourage the Chief Electoral Officer to look into it. We are going to have no part in any kind of practice or procedure that would suggest that that was acceptable.

Mr. Anderson: Given that government bullying and intimidation of individuals and organizations for donations should never be a part of our political system – I agree, Madam Premier – will the Premier undertake to either personally or through, as she has suggested, a request to the Chief Electoral Officer prepare a letter clarifying the rules around which organizations are prohibited from making political donations as well as the penalties associated for the violation of these rules?

Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, let’s be very clear. Every single time that the hon. member asks me to interfere with the business of the Chief Electoral Officer, he is not understanding the rules.

The Chief Electoral Officer is an independent officer. The Chief Electoral Officer must make their own determination as to what to do. If I stepped in and asked the Chief Electoral Officer to take action in this case, I think that within months we’d have the hon. member standing up and accusing me of interfering in other areas. I won’t do it.

Mr. Anderson: Sometimes doing what’s right is hard, isn’t it, Premier? Premier, given that one of the ways these illegal donations are kept hidden is that individual town councillors and school board members will personally purchase their ticket to a PC fundraiser and then have it reimbursed by their respective municipality or school board as a promotion expense, will you undertake – this is a simple question – to have your Municipal Affairs minister send a letter to all municipalities and their auditors to ensure that this practice is ended on a go-forward basis? It’s a very reasonable suggestion.

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, I find this to be fascinating. First of all, I’d be very interested in how the hon. member knows that this is what happens.

Secondly, there is no doubt that we have a system in place – and I referred to it yesterday – where we have a Department of Municipal Affairs, that has responsibilities with respect to the relationship with municipal governments. Municipal leaders, who are also elected by their communities, have a responsibility to follow the rules. There is no doubt that auditors who are in place understand the rules, and I fully expect that everyone who is elected and fully engaged in auditing should understand the rules well enough to make sure that these things aren’t happening.

Dim lights