You’re Wrong About … – The 905er

Lies, Damn Lies, and Election News

Roland Tanner — Tue, 10 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000

The election season stories are underway - in this case study we look out how the NDP managed to grab a bunch of column inches smearing Lisa MacLeod for not doing anything out of line at all, and Ontario's media just ... went along with it.

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Fed up with politics? Volunteer.

Roland Tanner — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 20:05:21 +0000

There is no party like a victory party that actually happens after a victory. Especially if the previous one was in the 1940s. But hardly any Canadians take an active role in local party politics beyond voting. Doing so leaves parties exposed to special interest groups, wealthy donors and the small number of unrepresentative people who come forward to pick leaders and choose party direction. Is it any wonder we don't feel they reflect our priorities?

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Bargain-priced corruption? How donation limits & public apathy have inflated corporate influence.

Roland Tanner — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 02:49:27 +0000

What might cost thousands or even millions in the US costs at most a couple of hundred bucks here in Canada. Donor limits don't take the impression of 'cash for influence' out of politics, they just make it much cheaper. So how can we fund parties in a way that makes political finances above suspicion?

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Everything you know about Ontario party funding is wrong

Roland Tanner — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 18:44:19 +0000

The first part of a series of articles on political finances in Ontario. Political parties in Ontario, and across Canada, depend on public subsidies as much as public donations to survive. Shouldn't they be able to support themselves? The answer is that the subsidies are the least of our problems with how parties raise money.

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