TORONTO - Ontario politicians of all stripes said Monday they were open to imposing new election spending limits following a huge increase in advertising by so-called third parties during the campaign for the Oct. 6, 2011 vote.
The Elementary Teachers' Federation, which has been in a bitter fight with the Liberals since wage freeze legislation was introduced last summer, spent $2.6 million to help defeat the Conservatives in the last provincial election.
The English Catholic Teachers' Association spent $1.9 million to help the Liberals that year, but was also part of the so-called Working Families Coalition, which spent another $1.6 million to help the governing party, which was reduced to a minority.
In his annual report, Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa recommended Ontario establish new campaign spending and donation limits for third parties after seeing a huge increase between the 2007 and the 2011 election campaigns. It marked the first time there were three third parties who spent more than $1 million each.
"In one election cycle, third-party advertising spending has more than tripled and third-party income has more than doubled," Essensa said in his annual report.
"The biggest third-party advertiser spent more on advertising than 19 political parties combined."
Despite the fact the Liberals benefited most from the third-party advertising, Premier Kathleen Wynne said she was willing to consider limits during election campaigns.
"I'm very interested in looking at the recommendations and open to looking at changes that could be made," said Wynne.
Attorney General John Gerretsen also left the door open to new spending caps.
"The notion of putting a spending limit on third parties certainly strikes me as something that's well worth looking into," said Gerretsen.
The Progressive Conservatives have long complained about the Working Families Coalition, but were unsuccessful in trying to convince Elections Ontario or the courts that the group is a front for the Liberal party.
Clearly there is a need for spending limits on third parties during elections, said PC critic Lisa MacLeod.
"There needs to be regulations and rules in place that make it more fair, more consistent," said MacLeod.
"There's something to be said when the Working Families Coalition spends more during election campaigns without any of the rules that govern political parties."
However, the New Democrats said spending limits should be looked at as part of a bigger review of Ontario's election finance rules, something they said most other provinces and the federal government have already done.
"I actually believe that it's good to have a number of voices that are bringing together ideas and thoughts in an election campaign," said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.
"What we don't want to see though is that small voices totally get drowned out by big voices, and so we have to find some balance in that regard."
"We're one of the provinces that hasn't done any of that real reform when it comes to election finances, and I think it's time that we look at it."
Elections Ontario also recommended that voting day be held on weekends or when teachers are off for professional development days so it would be easier to book school gyms as polling stations, and said it could even increase turnout.
"As voter turnout declines, it may be worth noting that other democracies hold their elections on the weekend and have a much higher voter turnout rate than sa国际传媒," said Essensa.
