Comments on Calgary Rants: Alberta "Illegal" Political Donations? Much Ado A...

I believe the issue is neither of these. The issue...

2012-01-16T20:09:47.645-07:00

I believe the issue is neither of these. The issue is the Alberta Government gives x amount of dollars to x University. X University turns around and uses part of their funding to make a donation back to the party or to buy tickets to a fundraising dinner. My understanding has never been about personal purchases but instead public money. Have I, and others musunderstood?

Very interesting interview with Paul Hinman on Rut...

2012-01-15T17:17:49.232-07:00

Very interesting interview with Paul Hinman on Rutherford on this topic last week. It sounds like there's more to come.

Available for replay: - 10AM, Thurs Jan 12: http://www.qr77.com/other/AudioVault.html

And one more issue: What about the fact the PCs s...

2012-01-15T15:09:29.215-07:00

And one more issue:

What about the fact the PCs send out invites to prohibited organizations? That is also illegal.

Also upsetting is the laws the governing PCs have set up around political corruption investigations: the investigations are secretive, done behind closed doors and no investigations are released. If any political information should ever by public, it should be investigations into political ethics and breaking of laws.
Openness, transparency and trust all ideals of Alison and the current "Changed from within" rendition of the PC party? Prove it, release the details and then my "fake" outrage will be lessened (but probably to be reignited by yet further proof later of more wrongdoing).

This illegal fundraising has been going on for dec...

2012-01-15T15:05:21.881-07:00

This illegal fundraising has been going on for decades. It's only now, that the Wildrose have formed a viable alternative to government, that the PCs are facing up to this and beginning to accept responsibility.
Yes, perhaps the donations can be innocent, but it's the culture of acceptance of such scenarios that are created through one party rule. The fact this illegal fundraising is out front and centre is thanks to great media work and great opposition work.
Illegal fundraising not a big deal to the PCs? Well, it's a big deal to the rest of Albertans who don't appreciate their tax dollars helping a tired, run down party go out and slog unoriginal ideas in the hopes of pulling the wool one more time over the eyes of Albertans.

I agree with you on some points Shane and with Ano...

2012-01-15T15:03:35.681-07:00

I agree with you on some points Shane and with Anon that the reality is this scenario can happen to any party.

However do these individuals not realize they are committing taxation fraud? If not at the time, surely they would question it when they fill out their tax return. IE: "Hmmm, I'm getting a tax deduction for a donation that I was refunded for?"

I read that MRU only refunds the portion which they don't receive a deduction for. In my mind they realize the tax implications, but fail to realize they are still contributing public funds to a political party.

As I mentioned in my recent blog piece on this topic, I think it's Elections Alberta that needs more (better) support. I believe there is onus on them to be educating the organizations involved.

You point out a couple of very typical scenarios. ...

2012-01-15T14:15:57.555-07:00

You point out a couple of very typical scenarios. And would it not be that the audit of these institutions discover these expense account 'errors'?

Further, if this is the case with the PCs, then it only follows that all of the political parties are likely to have similar situations in their donations.

It is highly unlikely that any political party actively solicit these organizations for donations.

Its a tempest in a teapot, but neither the first nor last that we will see originate from the Wildrose.