Telecom sector invests nearly half million dollars in partisan political system

The Canadian telecom sector was apparently at home when the political party bagmen came calling last year. The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada released his report on contributions to all of the registered political parties in Canada made in 2000. The telcos and others in the industry were generous to the five groups in the House of Commons, donating $442,372. A search by Network Letter discovered that most ILECs, CLECs, WSPs, manufacturers and telecom unions handed out cash to the parties. The Liberals were by far the favoured candidates, raking in $161,623 from such outfits as Telus Corp, AT&T Canada and Nortel Networks Corp. The Canadian Alliance collected $104,506 from Telus, Call-Net Enterprises Inc and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA). The Progressive Conservatives managed to bring in $17,456 from such sources as Telus, Nortel, AT&T Canada and the CWTA. Several of those contributions were small, such as the $535 given both by AT&T Canada and the wireless association. Vidéotron Communications Inc stayed close to its territory, handing over $5,055 to the Bloc Québécois. The BQ also garnered $860 from Bell Canada International Inc and $270 from Bell Canada, for a total of $6,185. The New Democrats brought in $152,602, all of it from telecom unions. The primary donor was the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada. Various offices and locals from across the country gave the party $148,969. An additional $3,633 came from the Telecom Workers Union. The NDP received no corporate funding from the telcos, just as the telecom unions sent no money to the other parties. Troubled economic times did not seem to hinder donations. Defunct CLEC C1 Communications Inc gave the Grits $2,619 while Look Communications Inc gave the party $4,324. Clearnet Communications, which is now part of Telus, sent $7,923 to the Liberals. Nortel, which had yet to crash to its current levels when the contributions were being sought, was extremely munificent. It gave the Liberals $37,958, the Alliance $18,330 and the Tories $16,386.The only notable name from the telecom sector to make an individual contribution was BCE Inc CEO Jean Monty. He provided $1,000 to the Liberal party. Political parties must file annual returns on fundraising with Elections Canada. All donations over $100 must be listed by name and by classification. Next year that limit will be raised to $200. The amounts collected last year were higher than usual, due to the federal election held last November.

Telecom sector invests nearly half million dollars in partisan political system

News | October 10, 2001

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