Historian calls Liberal MP's fundraiser a worry
An upcoming fundraiser by film, video game and music executives for Liberal MP Sarmite Bulte has drawn the ire of a prominent Canadian historian.Jack Granatstein says the $250-a-plate bash is inappropriate for a politician who could spearhead key changes to copyright law if she is re-elected on Jan. 23.
"I worry when any politician, at any time but particularly in an election time, is given a fundraiser by a lobby group,'' said the noted author of more than a dozen books on Canadian politics.
"Politicians should be somewhat more careful than to be seen to be in the pocket of a particular collection of lobbyists on a matter of public importance.''
I've had my differences with Granatstein in the past but in this case he's not only on the mark, he's understating the situation. A search of this site on "Bulte" will yield two posts: here and here. Bulte has been working very hard to give the entertainment industry everything it could ask for on a plate and consumers' rights be damned. And consumers in this case would be another word for citizens. You remember them, don't you Sarmite? They're the ones you're supposed to be representing.
One of Bulte's benefactors, the president of the Canadian Recording Industry Association, is quoted thusly:
This is part of the political process. This goes on in every democracy in every country of the world.
Well it must be alright then. Everybody buys legislators so it's OK if we do it, too.
Maybe this is why democracy is in so much trouble.
Just in case we think sleazy lobbying is an American thing...
The addicition to lobbyists' money has seriously undermined American democracy, though some corrective action is finally being taken against the K Street bandits Abramoff and Scanlone. Let's hope it doesn't have to get that bad before we act here.
Have you read my Canadian election story on donations?
Seriously, I haven't seen this anywhere on the news, but maybe I just missed it while laughing at US Republicans.
A short laugh that quickly sobered, but certainly worth it.
If you'd like some more current data, you could have a look at the page that Andrew Anderson of Bound by Gravity (and some assistants) created because of the lousy state of the Elections Canada page.
Most of the time I don't agree with what you write, but on Bulte, you are DEAD ON my friend. Kudos. Bulte is in big trouble in blogosphere, and we need to keep it up.
Welcome to US-style democracy. It's good to know, that when I finally move north, some things will be familiar.
I stumbled onto my old link here & realized I forgot to add the link!
Sorry!!
http://thiscanadian.typepad.com/this_canadian/2005/12/party_contribut.html
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