Political Party Financing

In a healthy democracy, there should be room for people from every sector of society to participate in the political process. But any perception that corporate donations to political parties buy access or influence policy undermines public trust in both business and government.

• Unlike most business organizations, the CCCE played an active role in the public discussion of Bill C-24 in 2003, an act to reform the financing of federal political parties and in particular to limit both individual and corporate donations.
• A survey of its member chief executives found a strong consensus on the principles of transparency and accountability. Fully 90 percent agreed that all donations for a political purpose should be reported publicly, and that political parties should continue to be funded primarily through voluntary donations.
• By a margin of two to one, CCCE members supported a reasonable cap on corporate and individual donations and the expansion of the federal political contribution tax credit. By a four to one margin, they opposed increased taxpayer subsidies for political parties based on indicators such as popular support in the previous election.