TORONTO (February 21, 1996) - The Ontario Election Finances Commission, presided over by appointees from the three parties in the legislature, reviewed Fp secretary Robert Vaughan's request to have the Commission appoint non-voting representatives from the unrepresented registered political parties as observers at all Commission meetings. The issue had been raised at several meetings between the Commission and the alternative political parties (see past editions of Freedom Flyer).
In rejecting Vaughan's request, the Commission argued that it "does not have the statutory authority to appoint observers to the Commission," and encouraged the alternative parties to "discuss their concerns with their MPPs." The Commission pointed to its "history of behaving responsibly," but noted that "unrepresented registered political parties are completely subject to the policies adopted by the Commission."
However, the most alarming issue raised by the Commission in its response to Vaughan's request was in reference to the Statutory Powers Procedure Act.
In its February 21, 1996 minutes, the Commission reported that:
"The Statutory Powers Procedure Act has been amended to provide for PAPER HEARINGS RATHER THAN FACE TO FACE HEARINGS. (Emphasis ours.) This amendment was designed to simplify the process. Although the Commission does not have a statutory obligation to hold hearings, it ensures that when it decides issues that affect the significant rights or interests of those involved that appropriate procedures for ensuring procedural fairness have been observed."
What makes the Commission's statement particularly disturbing is the fact that there are no defined "rights or interests" for Ontario's officially registered political parties. There are only "limits," prohibitions, and regulations designed to control political fundraising in Ontario. As a consequence, there are no guaranteed avenues of appeal to Commission decisions and rulings. All "rights" and "procedures" depend upon the whim of the Commission.
The Commission pointed to its practice of having "occasional informal meetings with representatives of registered political parties without representation" on an "ad hoc" basis, and that any deliberations on items of concern to the parties - "particularly policy matters" - would "continue to be conducted in private."
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last updated on April 28, 2002
