Manitoba to eliminate subsidy for political campaign expenses

The Manitoba government is eliminating a public subsidy for political campaign expenses such as advertising, office rent and staff wages.

An omnibus budget bill now before the legislature would do away with a rebate that reimburses provincial parties and candidates 50 per cent of general campaign expenses.

It would maintain a separate 100 per cent rebate for candidate expenses related specifically to child care and disability-related costs.

In the last election campaign, the Progressive Conservatives and NDP received close to $1 million each in reimbursements, while the Liberals got more than $250,000.

Even with the reimbursements, the Liberals and NDP took more than a year to pay off their campaign debts.

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