Andrea Horwath wants Wynne to widen consultation on fundraising rules

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says she's worried that any changes made to how political parties can raise money in the province will be formed "in the back rooms at Queen's Park" rather followingan extensive public consultation.

• Political fundraising needs public inquiry, PC Leader Brown says

• Kathleen Wynne proposes ban on corporate, union donations after meeting with opposition

Horwath made the comments on CBC Radio's Metro Morning show Monday, a day after Premier Kathleen Wynnetook the unusual step of meetingwith Horwathand Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown to discuss the changes.

Horwath said she wants theLiberals to gather input from a wide group ofstakeholders everyone from voters to academics before framing the new rules that govern donations to political parties.

The Liberals have come under fire in recent weeks over theirfundraising practices, which include expensive and exclusive dinners for party donors.

Horwath said she doesn't want the new rules to be struck "in the back rooms of Queen's Park," but would prefer them to come from a process"that's public, by which we could get the ideas that form the legislation."

"Unfortunately Kathleen Wynne decided on her own, with her party I guess, that they would do it the opposite way.That they themselves would draft the legislation and then take it out to a public process and we think that that's the cart before the horse."

Yesterday Wynne promised to ban corporate and union donations starting next year and to bring in spending limits on third-party advertising, among other changes.

Wynne also promised to consult with the opposition parties on future reforms.

Horwath's comments come a day after PC Leader Patrick Brown spoke to Matt Galloway about electoral finance reform.

Wynne will speak about the proposed changes in a Metro Morning interview scheduled for 7:40 a.m. Tuesday that CBC.ca will stream live.