Earlier, we reported federal Conservative concerns that their candidates and campaign managers could be the beneficiaries of corporate cash if they attend an upcoming training program put on by the Manning Centre for Building Democracy - violating Canada's election law. The reason: according to the party's operations director Jenni Byrne, the $249 registration rate for that three-day conference in Victoria appears to be subsidized by donations from the private sector. But, in an interview with Public Eye, a centre spokesperson said "we don't currently have any corporate donations or corporate sponsors for the Victoria campaign manager session."
Nevertheless, the spokesperson acknowledged the indirects costs for that event - such as curriculum development - will be "covered off through fundraising." And, if registration fees don't cover its direct costs, those same fundraising dollars will make up the shortfall.
But the spokesperson stressed the centre is "in compliance with the relevant laws." As for Ms. Byrne's request for the "full registration rate," the spokesperson stated, "We don't ask anybody for what party they belong to or support. And, on that basis, it would be impossible for us to be able to charge different amounts for participants."
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