Guy Lauzon, MP - Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry

PHOTO CREDIT - GuyLauzon.ca

Cornwall - Jan. 28, 2011 - Did you know that your taxes are helping finance the Bloc Quebecois and their efforts to separate the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada? That's right, because of financing rules put in place by the former Liberal Government, the Bloc receives a $2.00 subsidy from Elections Canada for each and every vote they receive in a general election.

Before Mr. Chretien retired as PM he put a law in place that all federal political parties qualify for a $2.00 annual subsidy for each and every vote they received in the last federal election. The result of this action is that a total of $27 million per year is distributed to the five major parties including the Bloc Quebecois.

Because the Conservative Party received more votes than any other party they receive more money than the other parties and have the most to lose if the subsidy is discontinued. The Liberal Party receives the second highest amount and the NDP, the Bloc, and the Greens somewhat less. Four of the parties conduct national campaigns in 308 ridings unlike the Bloc Quebecois who only campaign in the 75 ridings of Quebec. I have always considered this an unfair arrangement.

Prior to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's fall economic update of 2008 he asked caucus members for suggestions on ways to reduce government spending. One of the recommendations I put forward was to eliminate the vote subsidy. Since being elected in 2004 I have watched the Bloc Quebecois MPs do everything in their power to try to divide our country and it bothered me to know that the Canadian taxpayer was subsidizing their efforts. Obviously Minister Flaherty felt the same way and included my idea in the Economic Update.

I must admit I was shocked at the reaction of the Liberal and NDP opposition parties. I personally thought they would support the proposal. I felt eliminating the subsidy was fair to all parties since it was based on percentage of votes received and affected all parties accordingly. Because the Conservative Party had the most to lose, I was confident the Liberals and NDP would support my suggestion.

Instead their reaction was to enter into a coalition with the Bloc Quebecois. I do not understand how a Member of Parliament who believes in Canadian unity would choose a coalition with a separatist rather than vote to remove their subsidy. I was very pleased to see the public's very negative reaction to the idea of a coalition involving the separatist Bloc Quebecois. I plan to continue to advocate for the elimination of vote subsidy and I am prepared to campaign on this issue in the next election.

Guy Lauzon
Member of Parliament
Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry