When you think of priorities for how your tax dollars are spent, what comes to mind?

Many would say “roads,” “health care,” policing,” “getting the provincial government’s debt under control” or perhaps even “reducing taxes.”

It’s probably fair to say most bookies in Las Vegas would bet against the majority of Manitobans picking “giving more tax dollars to political parties” as a top priority.

But sadly, Premier Greg Selinger seems to still support giving even more tax dollars to political parties. According to a new government report, Greg Selinger’s NDP will be eligible to receive an additional$278,811 courtesy of taxpayers.

The report suggests the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives (PCs) will be eligible for $63,255 and $242,712 respectively as well; although the PCs have said they won’t take the money.

Not surprisingly, every excuse the NDP has come up with to defend the new handout scheme they brought in just doesn’t hold water.

Premier Selinger’s party claims political parties need another handout from taxpayers because the NDP ‘cleaned up’ politics by banning donations from businesses and unions back in 2001.

That obviously begs the question – how did Greg Selinger’s party win elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011 without the new handout scheme or donations from unions or businesses?

And it wasn’t like we saw Greg Selinger hitchhiking to campaign announcements in the last election. Nor was he putting up homemade lawn signs. His party ran a campaign with glitzy new signs, a swanky vehicle for him to drive around in and they paid for tons of attack ads. Clearly, they aren’t hurting for money.

Consider that during the 2003 election year Manitobans gave $4,324,757 to the NDP, Progressive Conservatives, Liberals and Greens combined. Yet by the 2011 election year, Manitobans donated $5,384,485; a 25 per cent increase.

How can political parties raise so much? Well, what many people don’t know is they already receive two existing handouts from taxpayers.

First, when you make a $100 donation to a charity, you get a provincial tax credit for $10.80. However, when you donate $100 to a political party, you get a tax credit for $75.

Yes, you read that right. If you donate to a charity like Osborne House in Winnipeg (they help women across the province who are victims of domestic abuse) you get a tax credit that is a fraction of what you would get for donating to a political party.

The second way political parties receive funding occurs during election time. When they spend money on things like election signs and brochures during campaigns, they receive a cheque from the government for half of their expenditures. So if they spend $100,000 on brochures, the government will cut them a cheque for $50,000.

The real reason behind Mr. Selinger’s push for a new funding scheme seems to come down to the fact his party used to fundraise more than their opponents. Yet over the last few years they’ve fallen behind the Progressive Conservatives.

Instead of forcing taxpayers to help his party make up the fundraising difference, Mr. Selinger should crack the whip on his party to earn more voluntary donations.

Who knows, if Mr. Selinger’s party focused more on addressing Manitobans’ priorities, perhaps fundraising wouldn’t be so hard for them.

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