Exposing the ‘Elephant in the Room’

The “elephant in the room” in Alberta politics is big money. Nobody likes to talk about the role money plays in deciding elections, but it’s hard to deny its influence in these days of steep advertising costs.

Of course, money has always played a role in politics. What’s news is that the imbalance between the very deep pockets of Alberta’s PCs and the opposition parties has reached a critical level that makes a sham of democracy.

“All political parties depend on donations for survival. In fact, aside from voting, donating to the party of your choice is one of the best ways to support a strong democracy,” notes Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft. “But in Alberta, where government doesn’t change for decades, the tendency of major contributors to favour the ruling party has created a huge barrier for anyone else in the race.”

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