Is getting 70% of your campaign funds from one source is a good idea or not

“A new BC Conservative government would take big money out of politics by banning provincial political donations from corporations and unions.”
John Cummins, announcing his candidacy for leadership of the BC Conservative Party.

A story two days ago, in the Globe and Mail, included comments from University of Calgary Political Scientist Lisa Young, who said that a ban on corporate donations to federal political parties has improved public confidence in the system. “There isn’t that sense that corporations or unions are unduly influencing the process,” she says.

So is the BC Liberal Party thinking perhaps this is an idea they should now jump on – or do they disapprove of this suggestion from BC Conservative leadership candidate John Cummins?

Thursday on his Facebook page, John Rustad (Liberal MLA for Nechako lakes) posted the following comment:

The new BC Conservative leader wants to ban all corporate and union donations to political parties. This would mean taking your tax dollars and using them to fund political parties in BC. We've discussed this before but since it's coming up again, have your thoughts changed on this topic?

As I am not a “friend” with Rustad, I wasn't able to post directly to his question, however I did post the following to my own Facebook page:

Liberal MLA John Rustad (Nechako Lakes) seems bothered that John Cummins of the BC Conservative Party is calling 4 a ban on all corporate and union donations to political parties. I am the voter so shouldn’t I be the one making the donation if I believe strongly enough in the party -- rather than big unions / big business? Big donation$ = big favor$ owed

Regardless of my comment however, here is something you may be interested in knowing. In 2009, the BC Liberals received 70% of their campaign funding from corporations and associations. The NDP on the other hand had 40% of their campaign contributions coming from unions.

That led me to wonder how much then can be contributed to a political party. A quick check of the Frequently Asked Questions at Elections BC has the following information available:

1. Are there limits on the amount that can be contributed to a candidate, registered constituency association or registered political party?

There are no political contribution limits in British Columbia. However, the Election Act does establish limits on the amount of anonymous contributions a candidate, registered constituency association or political party can accept.

While the union contribution to the New Democrats is quite a bit smaller, it still accounts for a large portion of what it takes to support the party, and run their election campaign. As for the BC Liberals … I'm wondering whether or not you think getting 70% of your campaign funds from one source is a good idea or not?

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, and those are the thoughts of one conservative.