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Board urges province to extend campaign finance reform measure to municipal elections

Mon, 13 Jul, 2015

The Edmonton Public School Board is lending its support to a provincial government plan to ban corporate and union donations to provincial election candidates, and is hoping those reforms will be extended to those running for mayor, city councillor and trustee positions.

"The introduction of Bill 1 (An Act to Renew Democracy in Alberta) was a positive step to leveling the democratic playing field," said Board Chair Michael Janz. "But to further protect the public interest, we hope to see these reforms extended to local election campaigns. This would help ensure that taking part in an election is an opportunity available to all citizens."

The Board has written a letter to Kathleen Ganley, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, and Deron Bilous, Minister of Municipal Affairs, advocating for a system of tax credits for political donations similar to current provincial and federal thresholds.

"Candidates will start fundraising soon for the 2017 municipal election," said Janz. "If changes are going to be made, they must be given ample notice and clarification of the rules as soon as possible."