Yukon NDP call for reform of election donation rules

Yukon's official opposition has tabled a private member's bill that would overhaul political donation rules in the territory.

The NDP'sproposed"Fairness in Political Contributions Act"would end donations from unions, corporations, and non-Yukoners, and set an annual limit of $1,500on individual donations.

Leader Liz Hanson says it's time to end "big money"in politics, and called on the government and the Liberalsto support the bill.

"We hope that it will strengthen our democracy and encourage ordinary Yukoners to play a bigger part in our political process, and have a greater say in how it plays out."

Hanson pointed to a law passed by the NDP government in Alberta, which bans union and corporate donations while imposing individual limits.

The NDPsay Yukon's Elections Act could be changed before the end of the spring sitting, just in time to be applied to the election later this year.

NDP grandstanding, says government

The government does not seems supportive, with thehouse leader accusingthe NDP of grandstanding.

In a motion introduced Tuesdayin the legislature, MLADarius Elias said the NDP had ample opportunityto weigh in on the topic before this election year.

"This houseurges the leader of the NDP to explain why [they]chose not to work collaboratively in proposing changes to the Elections Act, regarding political contribution rules," he said.

Elias cited several examples of times when the NDP mighthave pursued the issue, dating back to the days immediately following the territorialelection of 2011. That'swhen the chief electoral officer asked all the parties for input following the election.

Eliassaid the NDP had another opportunity to raise the issue two years ago, when the chief electoral officer asked all the parties what changes they would like made to the Elections Act.

Elias alsonoted the NDP voted unanimously to pass Bill 91, amending the Yukon Elections Act, last fall.

Liz Hansonsaid her party's newbill will be called for debate during this session.

In the past two years, the NDP tabled three otherprivate members' bills: one oncrossing the floor, another on lobbying, and another on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a worker's compensation issue.

The clerk of the legislative assembly saidnone of those bills were ever brought forward for debate.