Halifax may reform rules on campaign donations for councillors

Halifax needs to reform its fundraising rules for municipal elections, a prominent developer said this week.

Francis Fares owns Fares Inc., which is building King's Wharf in Dartmouth. He responded to a CBC News Investigation that found many politicians who won in the 2012 municipal election accepted donations from developers.

• MAP: Donations to Halifax municipal candidates

"Currently it is a wide-open playground and those that can raise more money have a greater ability to campaign and win," Fares told CBC News on Wednesday.

"I personally believe that there needs to be election financing rules put in place for municipal elections, as there are for provincial and federal elections."

• Halifax councillors got one-third of donations from development community
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Fares added that individuals should make donations to candidates because they believe the candidate will be an asset in government, not to gain personal favours.

Neighbourhood groups not surprised

Fares gave $500 to Gloria McCluskey's successful Dartmouth Centre campaign and with his wife contributed $2,000 to Mike Savage's successful mayoral bid. His company made no campaign contributions.

About 30 per cent of all donations to winning councillors came from companies involved in development, construction and real estate. While some received no money from developers, others received most of their funding from those sources.

A number of councillors told CBC News the contributions don't have a direct influence on development decisions.

Neighbourhood groups in Halifax are not surprised by the amount of municipal campaign contributions from the development community.

Friends of Schmidtville wants change

Larry Haiven is a member of the Friends of Schmidtville, a residents' group that represents a neighbourhood in the Morris Street area of Halifax.

Haiven says the association was formed to counter what members saw as the undue influence of developers.

"It's not for a councillor to tell us that they're not influenced when they're not the best judges of that, nor are the developers," he said.

Haiven says he's tremendously gratified that his councillor, Waye Mason, only accepted donations from individuals.

City staff are considering new rules for municipal campaign contributions. Haiven thinks changes are needed.

"Winnipeg has a rule that says that businesses are not allowed to donate and there's a $1,500 limit for individuals, and we should do something like that," Haiven said.

Coun. Walker sees no problems

Coun. Russell Walker, who represents Halifax-Bedford Basin, worries stricter rules will make it harder to raise funds.

More than 50 per cent of the $11,550 that Walker raised for the 2012 election came from the development community.

"Personally I don't see any grave concern because my residents are not phoning me as their No. 1 priority as to how I raised my money." Walker said.

"It's not a burning issue, except for the media."