Proposed Ontario political donation cap too high: ex-federal chief electoral officer

TORONTO — A former chief electoral officer of Canada says Ontario’s proposed new limits on political contributions still sound too high.

Committee hearings are taking place through the summer on the Liberal government’s legislation to tighten fundraising rules and Jean-Pierre Kingsley offered his thoughts today.

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Overall, he says the bill looks “very good,” but he suggested the government take another look at the contribution limits.

Kingsley says the maximum annual contribution limit of $1,550 to a party is reasonable, but in an election year, people would be able to donate more than $7,000 and he says that “sounds excessive.”

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The legislation also proposes to ban corporate and union donations, and give each party a $2.26-per-vote subsidy to offset that loss of income.

Kingsley says he think the per-vote subsidy should be made permanent, at an amount to be determined, because “it sustains political party life.”