In my report, I want to make sure that any potential loopholes for illicit funding are addressed. We are concerned that if there are non-traceable instruments, prepaid credit cards, for example, that are used to make contributions, this does not provide a proper trace of where the money comes from. I see no reason why we should allow these kinds of contributions in our system and I've recommended that they be eliminated.
I also recommended some changes to the third party funding regime. Right now, third parties can use their own funds. Of course, in the case of individuals, that's appropriate, but what comes into a group's own funds can potentially be a range of sources. We've seen, increasingly, third parties report their expenditures as being paid out of their own funds and we don't know the original source of that money.
My recommendation is if groups want to use their own funds, that should be limited to groups that receive 10% of their revenues from contributions. Fundraising entities should not be able to use their own funds. Groups that largely depend on contributions should need to set aside a separate campaign bank account to receive contributions from Canadians and permanent residents.