EDMONTON, AB: Monday, NDP MLAs doubled down on their overhauling of election financing by defeating a Wildrose motion to level the playing field with election spending, the Wildrose Official Opposition said.
The motion, introduced by Wildrose MLA for Barrhead – Morinville – Westlock Glenn van Djiken, would have amended the NDP’s proposed $2.3 million general election spending cap by allowing political parties to spend up to the annual average of the previous three years of advertising spending.
In the past year, the NDP government has spent $6 million to promote risky economic policies including $4.4 million on the carbon tax, over $1 million to advertise two budgets, and $100,000 on a frivolous PPA lawsuit.
“Wildrose believes that it is absolutely ridiculous for the current government to spend millions of tax dollars to advertise their risky policies, yet bar political parties from spending a similar amount of money raised through donations during a campaign,” van Dijken said. “The NDP government is out of touch with everyday Albertans, and are ramming through recommendations that will drastically change our election system.”
The overhaul by the NDP of the current election system includes a one-two punch of forcing election subsidies on Alberta taxpayers, then placing limits on spending so that opposing parties cannot keep up with government advertising levels.
“Albertans deserve better than what the NDP government is trying to push through a committee in the middle of August,” Wildrose House Leader Nathan Cooper said. “Wildrose will continue to be on the side of everyday Albertans, and argue against these out of touch policies the NDP is putting forward.”