Green candidate promises transparency on campaign spending

Sudbury’s Green Party candidate, David Robinson, sent out a news release on Aug. 18 stating that he will be open and transparent with his candidate expenses during the “great trek” of this federal election campaign.

“Sudburians deserve to know how much we candidates spend - after all, we are spending taxpayer’s money,“ said Robinson.

“I’m going to post every receipt for my campaign expenses on my website. Sudburians will be able to see how much I’m spending to attract their votes. Voters should demand the same transparency from the other candidates.”

Robinson’s campaign expenses will be posted daily at www.drdavidrobinson.ca.

The website will include a running estimate of how much public money his campaign spends. Robinson will also make available information about donations made to the campaign.

“As a candidate running in an election, I’ve really got no choice but to raise and spend some money in order to get noticed by the voters,” said Robinson.

“That’s just the reality of our electoral system. But knowing that at least some of the money that I’m spending is coming from taxpayers who may or may not support me, the least I can do is spend your money in a transparent way.”

In a news release, Robinson said the extended campaign will cost taxpayers "more than twice the amount of spending allowable in a normal 37 day election cycle. The extended campaign means that candidates in the Sudbury riding can each spend up to $204,828.71 - more money than ever before."

Robinson, an economist, calculates that as much as 84 per cent of this spending will come from taxpayers.

"Candidates that receive more than 10 per cent of the popular vote will get 60 per cent of their campaign expenses back from Elections Canada," Robinson said. "Canadians who donate to candidates and political parties are eligible to receive back up to 75 cents on the dollar in the form of tax credits. In total, candidates and political parties spend approximately $6.40 for every dollar that supporters give them.”

Taking the lead from Green Party leader Elizabeth May in posting his expenses, Robinson challenged his opponents to do the same and to limit their spending.

“I certainly hope that candidates Fred Slade, Paul Lefebvre and Paul Loewenberg will also choose to be accountable with their spending by committing to posting their own expenses online,” says Robinson. “I challenge them to join me in holding the line on campaign spending by agreeing not to spend more than what would have been allowable in a normal 37-day election campaign.”