I do believe the transparency provisions that exist within the bill to ensure that third parties identify the source of the funds are a step forward.
Once again, I do not want to say that there is no way in which money could still be shuttled through—as I think my colleagues Dr. Turnbull and Mr. Burton pointed out—but I also struggle to think of political finance regimes where there is not some back door. I don't want to suggest that by simply removing the 10% owned funds contribution we have a fait accompli and we have solved political finance.
I do think there is value in having political expression from different actors in the political environment. I would suggest that the previous legislative changes, under successive Liberal and Conservative governments, that have restricted campaign spending and put limits on fundraising also go a good part of the way to preventing foreign influence.
What I would say is that this is very much an iterative process. If this provision does go through as it is currently written, we will see, in the next election cycle or two, just how effective it is and how it affects the number and type of third parties that will participate in Canadian federal elections.