Opinion: Campaign-finance laws should strive for fairness between people, not parties

, this time on democratic-rights grounds – to which the notwithstanding clause does not apply.

But elections are not only a contest between the parties. They are a conversation among Canadians. The parties may have views on which of them deserve to be elected, but so do 40 million citizens. That is whom we should be concerned to treat fairly: to ensure that, in the national conversation, wealthier individuals do not drown out others with less means.

Limit contributions, singly, and it is still possible for the rich to have more voice in the conversation, by making multiple contributions. Limitingcontributions, on the other hand, constrains a person’s overall capacity to influence the debate.

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Opinion: Campaign-finance laws demand fundamental reform, not end-runs and tweaksPolitical-contribution laws such as the one passed by the Ford government – and tossed out by an Ontario court last week – are based on a flawed understanding of fairness
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