JOHN FELDSTED -- Greed knows no bounds ... they are playing us for fools

4  federal parties say they’ve applied for emergency wage subsidy
By Kerri Breen -- Global News --May 22, 2020

Four of Canada’s federal political parties say they’re seeking the emergency wage subsidy to pay staff due to the fundraising challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Liberals confirmed they already applied and received the benefit after CBC reported that the NDP submitted its application on Friday.

The Liberals suspended in-person fundraisers in March. The party has not had to lay off any staff due to COVID-19.

“As has been reported for other parties as well, the Liberal Party of Canada has met the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy in recent weeks and received that support,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“Beyond that, as always, the party relies on grassroots fundraising support from individual Canadians — in line with all of Elections Canada’s strict limits, rules, and regulations.”

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) provides 75 per cent of a worker’s wages (up to $847 per week) to eligible businesses and non-profit organizations that have lost considerable revenue during the pandemic.

The program, which is intended to allow employers to retain or rehire workers, is expected to cost $73 billion. It was originally scheduled to wrap up during the first week of June but has been extended until the end of August.

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Sometimes what is not reported is vital. In this case, the media forgot that the political parties crying poverty are about to get a major public windfall.

In the 2019 election, the five main parties spent $121,310,389 on eligible election expenses.

The parties are entitled to a reimbursement of 50% of eligible expenses from the treasury:

Bloc Québécois	$1,334,312
Conservative	$20,935,787
Green Party	$1,954,012
Liberal Party	$21,559,484
NDP	$14,870,600
TOTAL	$60,655,195

 

It usually takes about 6 - 8 months for Elections Canada to do the auditing and issue payments. Political parties know the funds are coming and should have no need for employer subsidies.

They are playing us for fools.

On top of the above, candidates polling 10% of the vote or higher in the election get 60% of their expenses reimbursed. Figures for the 2019 election are not yet available. In 2015 however, 979 candidates were reimbursed for a total of $42,573,710

Political parties are waiting for over $100 million in public subsidies to be delivered later this year and are crying poor.

The galling part is that these shameless hucksters believe themselves to be much smarter than those of us who foot the bills.

That is far beyond disgusting.

John Feldsted ... is a political consultant, commentator, and strategist.  He makes his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba