François Legault’s improvised decision to renounce all private financing will go down in history as an error. The opposition’s demagogic and exaggerated attacks disturbed François Legault. Then the fear that journalists would spend the winter finding cases of cocktail invitations terrified him.
• Read also: Political donations: the CAQ renounces popular financing
Let’s get one thing straight: inviting participants to a political activity by saying that a leader or minister will be there, that you will be able to meet him, talk to him, shake his hand or listen to his lecture, that’s normal. No scandal, no discomfort. Especially in a system where the maximum contribution is capped at as little as $100.
There would be discomfort if an MP warned a mayor that he would never be able to move his file forward unless he paid to come and meet a minister. So far, we have not seen any similar cases. Mayors say they have experienced something similar? Let us check the facts and let the Prime Minister issue a serious warning to the MP concerned if necessary.
But cut off private financing completely? It does not mean anything.
- Listen to the Dutrizac – Dumont meeting via QUB :
At the expense of the State
Whether people give to a party out of conviction, out of interest, out of friendship, out of respect, out of pity or opportunism, no one will succeed in searching all hearts. But donating to political parties is a universal right in democracies.
From now on, the CAQ will therefore live on 100% public funds. According to the 41% of votes received during the last general election, the CAQ receives approximately $4.5 million. In fact, the CAQ will become more of a state corporation than a political party.
A political party brings together citizens who become activists by uniting around a common core of values and ideas. In the modern history of democracies, the idea that this grouping is accompanied by a financial contribution is quite natural. Paying for a membership card, paying to attend an event or contributing to a candidate’s campaign is a positive democratic gesture.
François Legault’s announcement to close the door to any donations from individuals places the CAQ alone in its corner. Already with a donation limit of $100, our political parties were 80% financed by public funds. This in itself is a bizarre ratio that we justify by the trauma caused by the Charbonneau Commission.
Screenshots, TVA News
Legacy of Lévesque?
François Legault made his decision a logical continuation of René Lévesque’s action in terms of cleaning up political morals. On the contrary, René Lévesque had protected the possibility for individuals to make donations. The limit of $3,000 that he set at the time would represent $13,600 in 2024 dollars. We are far from the zero contribution standard.
As for this idea that Quebecers happily support 80% or 100% financing of parties with their tax money, I have my doubts. Despite a distrust of political financing, I guess that many would see their taxes better spent elsewhere.