NDP promises to take corporate, out-of-province money out of Sask. politics

NDP Leader Ryan Meili says Saskatchewan has the worst campaign finance laws in the country, and he’s pledging to fix them if his party forms government this fall.

“We need to level the playing field and make sure it’s the people of this province that are making decision, not companies from out of province,” Meili said Wednesday.

Meili said big corporate donations to the Saskatchewan Party buy companies undue influence within government. He said the influence can be seen through contracts that are awarded and laws passed that benefit corporations.

Meili pointed specifically to The Buffalo Project, which calls itself “a group of concerned citizens fighting for a new deal for Alberta and Saskatchewan.”

According to the NDP, corporations and people who recently signed a letter from the group to western premiers touting their plans donated more than $50,000 to the Sask. Party in 2019.

Meili connects that money to what he says is a reluctance from Premier Scott Moe to push away ideas of western separatism. Moe has said in the past that separation is not the answer, but has also talked about the sentiments being alive and well in this part of the country.

The Buffalo Project accused Meili of lying, saying the group has never donated to the Sask. Party. However, there are 13 people or corporations connected to The Buffalo Project that have made donations to the party.

Meili said if he were to become premier, he would introduce a bill to ban corporate and out-of-province donations in Saskatchewan, and would put a cap on individual donations.

He said the provincial government shot down a private member’s bill to that effect in 2018.

“Scott Moe refuses to do the right thing so instead, we’ll have to and that’s exactly what New Democrats will do,” said Meili.

In 2019, the Sask. Party brought in about $3.4 million in donations: About $1.9 million from individuals and $1.5 million from corporations, trade unions, unincorporated organizations or associations, and other people or groups of people.

The NDP in 2019 took in about $1.35 million in donations: About $1.07 million from individuals, and about $277,000 from corporations, trade unions, unincorporated organizations or associations, and other people or groups of people.

The bill would also ban union donations, the only category where the NDP outearned the Sask. Party in donations in 2019. The NDP took in $202,397.51, compared to the Sask. Party’s $1,590.

Meili said he’s fine to remove all those donations, saying it’s about doing things right and fair.

Most other provinces have banned corporate and out-of-province donations to political parties.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of this story, correcting the description of The Buffalo Project.