Federal Conservative candidates and campaign managers may have to pay more to attend an upcoming training program being put on by the Manning Centre for Building Democracy in Victoria. In a letter sent to the centre, the party's political operations director Jenni Byrne notes the $249 cost to attend that three-day event appears to have been "subsidized by generous donations from various corporations." And that's a concern for the Conservatives because, under the country's election law, no candidate or party "may take or receive any form of contribution or subsidy from a corporation."
As a result, to ensure no Tory candidate or campaign manager could be "considered or adjudged to have taken or received any such contribution or subsidy in connection with the above-noted event" Ms. Byre has asked the centre to disclose to the party the full registration rate. And she wants "sufficient supporting documentation" to justify that rate.
The program is scheduled to get underway on January 22 at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa. The following is a complete copy of that letter, which was obtained by Public Eye.
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January 7, 2010
The Manning Centre
PO Box 1988, STN M
Calgary, AB T2P 2M2
Re: Candidate Training Conference January 23-24, 2010
We understand that a number of candidates and campaign managers connected to the Conservative Party of Canada (the "Party") plan to attend the above-noted event being presented by the Manning Foundation.
In previous communications about this event, there were references to the fact that a portion of the costs to host this event has been subsidized by generous donations from various corporations. As you know, under various current Canada Elections Act provisions, no candidates attached to federally registered political parties, nor those parties themselves may take or receive any form of contribution or subsidy from a corporation.
We wish to ensure that no candidate or campaign manager connected to the Party could in any way be considered or adjudged to have taken or received any such contribution or subsidy in connection with the above-noted event. The current registration fee being offered appears to be an amount which is net of these corporate donations. Accordingly, would you please deliver to my attention the costing which applies to any candidate of the Party, and which charges the full registration amount to attend that does not include any subsidy, no matter how indirectly derived. I will also require sufficient supporting documentation that justifies the full registration rate, which the Party's candidates and campaign managers can rely upon to confirm that no improper subsidy has been received.
Given the timing of the above-noted event, could you please ensure that the costing and supporting documentation requested above is delivered to my attention no later than Friday, January 15, 2010.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and your anticipated timely reply.
Best regards,
Jenni Byrne
Director, Political Operations
Conservative Party of Canada
Great catch by Jenni and Sean :-).
Hate to cast aspersions, but better for Jenni & her team to intercept this stuff before one of the other parties does.