By Pepper Parr
January 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Doug Ford has more going for him in this snap election than people realize.
Were he to be going into an election that was scheduled – like the one that was supposed to take place in 2026 there would be limits on the amount of money political parties can spend on campaign advertising.
But the election taking place on February 27th was not scheduled and therefore it does not face any advertising spending limits.
The Progressive Conservatives have tonnes of money; expect the air waves to be saturated with advertising. They may have already bought up all the prime-time opportunities.
You didn’t know that – did you?
Penny, Why would you compare the American spending with a population of more than 340 million people, to Canada’s spending with a population of 40 million?
It has long since been demonstrated that controls/limits on campaign financing have very little impact on creating a more level playing field between parties and candidates. For example, on the municipal level there are definite restrictions of personal and corporate contributions. However, if you examine the personal contributions made by employees of developers you will find that, in several prominent cases, they far exceed the allowable contributions of their employer – and there is no means of regulating.
The best avenue is for supporters of a party to contribute – within the restrictions established, as much or as little as their means and convictions permit.
No I didn’t know that! Ford may be the worst Premier we’ve ever had, but it doesn’t mean he’s stupid. He is very cunning, just like our neighbour to the south.
Whatever the Conservative Party spends on this election campaign doesn’t come close to what the American election campaigns spend.
If the other parties don’t spend the same amount it is because they don’t have the funds to do so.