NDP Calls on Conservatives to Return Party Subsidy Funds

NDP MP Joe Comartin says if the Tories don’t like the subsidy program, they should reject the $10 million the party receives from it every year.

It’s never going to happen, but Comartin’s dare is simply the latest verbal volley fired in the fight over the subsidy program that sees each party receive $2 each year for every vote they received in the previous election. Stephen Harper recommitted to scrapping that system this month, enraging opposition parties who say that the Conservatives are trying to cripple their funding. Out of all the parties, the Conservatives rely on the program the least. Comartin said its hypocritical to campaign on eliminating the program while also accepting money from it, but it’s highly unlikely the Conservatives would reject the money unless all other parties followed suit. Since 2006, the Tories have received $50.8 million through the program.