David Reevely's article on businessman Brian Karam's multiple municipal campaign contributions through his various numbered companies to city councillors illustrates a flaw in Ontario's municipal election law ("Businessman who lent Harb money also donated to city councillors", Ottawa Citizen, Aug. 9, 2013).
While the overwhelming majority of voters are limited to what we can contribute to our favorite municipal candidates, a select few like Brian Karam can, by virtue of the corporations they control, provide additional funds to support their favourite candidates. This is both unfair and undemocratic, particularly as money is important in how candidates promote their campaigns to the electorate.
There is no justification to permit this select few (Mr. Karam is not the only example) this advantage in influencing municipal elections. Democracy is based on one person one vote and municipal campaign contributions should be limited to voters only. Corporations (and unions) don't have a vote and should not be able to contribute to municipal election campaigns.
Alex Cullen
(Alex Cullen was a member of Ottawa City Council from 2000 to 2010. During that time he did not accept corporate campaign contributions for his municipal elections).
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