Rookie councillor renews push to ban corporate campaign donations

First-time Ottawa city councillor Tobi Nussbaum says he'll ask Queen's Park to prohibit corporate and union donations to candidates seeking municipal office in this city.

But first he'll need the support of his council colleagues, many of whom accepted such contributions during the recent election campaign, and say they don't support a ban.

Nussbaum refused to accept corporate and union donations during last year's campaign, and promised voters in Rideau-Rockcliffe he'd raise the issue if elected.

He says he willgive notice of his motiontoday, when city council meets. That would clear the way for council to debate the matter on April 15.

Toronto enacted similar ban in 2009

Nussbaum notes the City of Toronto enacted a similar ban in 2009, and says there's no reason why Ottawa shouldn't follow that example.

"I don't think it's been controversial (in Toronto) since then, meaning they've now had two elections during which this prohibition was in place, and I think candidates have been able to finance effectively and the elections have not been affected in any detrimental way."

To some critics of the status quo, allowing businesses that could potentially stand to benefit from friendly relations with elected officials to donate to individual campaigns represents a clear conflict of interest.

Under provincial law, individuals who reside in Ontario, corporations that carry out business in Ontario, and trade unions that hold bargaining rights in Ontario may each donate a maximum of $750 to any candidate running for municipal office.

Corporate donations leadto 'corporate slates', says former councillor

Former Ottawa city councillor Alex Cullen, a vocal opponent of corporate campaign contributions, says the practice invariably leads to the election of what he calls a "corporate slate" of candidates.

Cullen analyzed financial statements filed following the 2010 election, and found roughly three quarters of donations from land developers, construction companies, waste management firms and other corporations that do business with the city went to a small group of successful candidates.

It doesn't really make sense to give unions and corporations a second kick at the can.- Rideau-Rockcliffe councillor TobiNussbaum

"It's an extra influence in the democratic process," says Cullen. "Money is important in getting people elected. It costs money to run campaigns. They get extra influence beyond the average voter, and that is anti-democratic."

But Nussbaum says that's not the primary motivation behind his proposal.

"I think this is really an issue of equity," says Nussbaum. "It doesn't really make sense to give unions and corporations a second kick at the can. Any member of a union, or any officer or director or owner of a corporation can donate in his or her own name, and so this isn't about disenfranchising anybody, because that right to donate as a voter, as a resident, already exists."

Nussbaum says his motion will not limit the proposed ban to corporations that do business with the city, or may compete for future city contracts.

"That's a tricky road to go down," Nussbaum says.

Monette says businesses have right to contribute

Some Ottawa city councillors who have accepted corporate donations in the past say they won't support Nussbaum's motion to change the rules in future elections.

"I always believed that the business community has a right to participate in the electorate process as much as individuals have this right also," says Orleans councillor Bob Monette, who says about half of the donations to his 2014 re-election campaign came from businesses.

"The business community are the same people that built the homes we live in, the offices we work in and the hotels we stay in when we travel so why would they not be able to participate?"

But other councillors say they're willing to consider changing the rule book.

Qaqish wants to hear how other cities handle issue

Gloucester-South Nepean councillor Michael Qaqish says he accepted some corporate donations in order to "compete on a level playing field" with other candidates; but Qaqish says he'd like to hear from staff about how other cities are approaching the issue.

"We're not allowed to accept tickets or gifts from any corporation that's doing business with the city, and I see this as an extension of that," says Qaqish.

Mayor Jim Watson has not been supportive in the past of a move to ban corporate campaign donations, and a spokesman reiterated that position on Tuesday, saying Watson "supports the provincial law that allows local businesses to contribute to the democratic process."

"A majority may be opposed, but I think even having a discussion about it and hearing different points of view is important," says Nussbaum.

On Tuesday Nussbaum wasn't certain whether he'd ask the province to amend the Municipal Elections Act, which would affect all Ontario cities, or pursue a local option under the City of Ottawa Act.

The deadline for all candidates in last year's municipal election to submit their financial statements including a list of donors, and how much each contributed is this Friday at 2 p.m.

Those financial statements will then be posted online at ottawa.ca.