The Charest Liberals have introduced legislation that would tighten financing rules for political parties at both the provincial and municipal levels, and would redraw the boundaries of nearly all the provincial ridings.
Under the proposal, provincial funding to parties would increase; each party would get more money for every vote they receive.
The proposed legislation also seeks to tighten the rules that now allow companies to hide behind their employees and make illegal contributions to political parties.
Any company caught breaking the law would be excluded from provincial, municipal, or school board contracts for five years.
Riding boundaries
If adopted, the bill would order the chief electoral officer to preserve a minimum number of ridings in each region.
Claude Bechard, the minister responsible for electoral reform, says he wants to protect the political power of Montreal from a population shift.
"The next 20 to 30 years with the actual system, there will be less ridings on the island of Montreal and more around Montreal. We want to protect the political power of Montreal like we want to protect the political power of all the regions," said Bechard.
Opposition reacts
The opposition parties believe there should be two separate bills -- one for the financing rules; the other to determine the riding boundaries.
The Parti Quebecois says the Liberals' proposal is irresponsible, and would lead to a National Assembly with as many as 150 members.
The PQ also says the opposition was never consulted on the proposed bill, and that changes to fundamental democratic issues such as riding boundaries and party financing demand a consensus.
