CBRM election campaign donations create perception of conflict of interest: CBU prof

Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) council members who accepted donations during last fall’s election campaign may not be in a conflict of interest, according to political scientist Tom Urbaniak. However, Urbaniak acknowledges that the public perception could be different, prompting him to call for campaign financing reform in the municipality.

Urbaniak, a professor at Cape Breton University, believes that the current rules around campaign donations in CBRM are quite lenient, allowing for large contributions from businesses, unions, and other organizations. This has led to significant amounts of money being raised by candidates, with some receiving donations of $5,000 or more from local businesses.

In the recent mayoral race, Cecil Clarke raised nearly $148,000, with donations coming from various sources, including local businesses. Joe Ward, who came second in the race, spent only $778 of his own money on his campaign. Rankin MacSween, who finished third, raised just under $88,000, with $50,000 of that coming from his own funds.

One of the donors, Novaporte CEO Albert Barbusci, contributed $2,300 to several council candidates, two of whom were successful in their campaigns. While Urbaniak notes that this may not create a direct conflict of interest when it comes to voting on a new contract, he emphasizes the importance of addressing the public perception of such donations.

Urbaniak suggests that CBRM should consider limiting donations and increasing transparency around campaign spending to build trust with the public. Currently, candidates are required to report any donations of $50 or more, but they are not obligated to disclose how the funds were used.

The issue of campaign financing came into focus last year when concerns were raised about Novaporte’s contract to develop CBRM land in Sydney harbor. Clarke, who received donations from individuals and companies connected to the project, has stated that Novaporte is exercising its contract option to purchase the land from CBRM for $10 million.

Overall, Urbaniak emphasizes the importance of ensuring that elected officials are perceived to be acting in the best interests of the community without any external influence. By reforming campaign financing rules and increasing transparency, CBRM can work towards building public trust and confidence in its elected representatives.