Freedom Flyer 23

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

June 1993

Bill C-114...

ALTERNATIVE PARTIES
PROTEST FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS

TORONTO (April 5, 1993) - Don Mills constituency president David Pengelly represented Freedom Party at a noon-hour protest against Bill C-114, which had passed its third and final reading in federal parliament.

The protest was orchestrated by the Green Party of Canada's Jim Harris and the Libertarian Party of Canada's Hill Cox, and was also supported by representatives of the COR Party (federal and provincial), the Communist Party (federal and provincial), the Family Coalition Party (Ontario), and the Ontario Libertarian Party.

LIBERALS, CONSERVATIVES, NEW DEMOCRATS
SUPPORT RESTRICTIONS

Bill C-114 was eagerly supported by Tories, Liberals, and NDP alike, and received Royal Assent on May 6.

The bill essentially prohibits any federally non-registered individuals and organizations from launching any effective information campaigns to make their political views or preferences known during a federal election.

By placing a $1,000 spending limit on any individual or group who is not a federally registered political party, the feds have seen to it that their critics will not even be able to buy a single full-page newspaper ad to express their support of, or opposition to, any federal candidate or party.

The bill also raises the candidate deposit required to run in a federal election from $200 to $1000.

Since federally-registered political parties must field a minimum of 50 candidates during a federal election to maintain their registration status, the price of entry into federal Canadian politics has now been raised to a minimum of $50,000. This can put a significant dent in the financial resources of any new political party that might garner enough support to threaten the political status quo.

FEDERAL OBJECTIVE CLEAR

"On the one hand our federal politicians want to limit the spending of their critics," says Fp leader Robert Metz, "while on the other, they have forced an increase in the spending of their political opponents who might take some votes away from them.

"Given that the smaller new political parties are far more dependent on the voluntary donations of their supporters than the entrenched parties who receive a great proportion of their income from taxpayer-paid grants and subsidies, the very thought that any of our elected MPs could even consider such an undemocratic proposal is both offensive and frightening.

"But they not only considered it, they did it.

"On these grounds alone, no self-respecting Canadian should vote for any of the three major parties. This government is proclaiming loudly and clearly that it does not respect the rights of its citizens."

The spending restrictions would also apply to Freedom Party, which is strictly a provincially registered political party with no affiliation to any other federally- or provincially registered political parties.

NO COINCIDENCE

It is no mere coincidence that Bill C-114 was passed so quickly, given the urgency of the impending federal election. In the words of one unnamed MP, "the ballot is becoming too cluttered," making it clear that the government's motivation and objective is to limit the voter's choices during a federal election.

Some of the alternative parties are considering filing a class action suit against the individual MPs and their parties for "violating the constitutional rights of alternative parties and candidates, and for conspiring to corrupt elections."

The federal precedent could also pave the way for similar provincial legislation, given that the current provincial deposit requirement is also $200, and that most provincial regulation of political parties mirrors federal regulations.

"That could be devastating to a party like Freedom Party," commented Metz, "because we are able to run a whole election campaign in a riding - including signs, the fielding of candidates, and the delivery of literature to every household in the riding - for under $1000. A provincial regulation like Bill C-114 would more than double our election costs, costs which are paid for entirely by the voluntary donations of our members and supporters."

Meanwhile, the National Citizens' Coalition launched a court challenge to the legislation on June 7, 1993 and as of this writing is awaiting a judicial decision on its constitutionality. The NCC defeated similar legislation in the past, and it is hoped that the courts will once again rule against this undemocratic legislation.

GET THE DETAILS! Copies of relevant media releases and background information on this issue are available to Freedom Party members and supporters on request.