Now that we have a majority government, we can finally get rid of per vote subsidies. I have received many letters, emails and phone calls from you, my constituents, concerned that your tax payer dollars are funding political parties. I am happy to say that we are finally able to act on your concerns.

PHOTO CREDIT - GuyLauzon.ca

Cornwall - Oct. 18, 2011 - Now that we have a majority government, we can finally get rid of per vote subsidies. I have received many letters, emails and phone calls from you, my constituents, concerned that your tax payer dollars are funding political parties. I am happy to say that we are finally able to act on your concerns.

You will recall the fiasco we lived through in 2008. I am talking about the threat of "the coalition". The 2008 budget tabled by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty included the removal of vote subsidies to political parties. I personally made this suggestion to the Prime Minister prior to the budget.

I never felt comfortable that hard-working taxpayers had a portion of their taxes subsidizing political parties. I feel if you believe in me or my party, you will support me financially if you are able to do so. I do not think that you should have to do so. Your financial support should be voluntary just like your vote.

Obviously the three opposition parties did not agree. Our government was forced to prorogue Parliament to prevent the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc from forming a coalition government. If this would have occurred, the NDP would have formed government with the Liberals.

Our Government recently introduced the Budget Implementation Act II which calls for the elimination to be over 4 years. Although I wish it would happen more quickly, I am pleased that it is being eliminated. The current $2.00 per year subsidy will be reduced by fifty cents per year. This move is being heavily criticized by the NDP, who receive most of their funding from large unions and have come to rely on this subsidy for a portion of their annual funding. I cannot understand that a party like the NDP who claim to be "grass roots" do not have the confidence that their constituents will support them financially. My experience is that it is the ordinary working class people who step up to the plate when it is time to finance a campaign for a party that stands up for values they believe in.

Guy Lauzon
Member of Parliament
Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry