I was 32 years of age at the time. We photocopied a curriculum vitae. I went through it with five other candidates to win the nomination. I was fortunate to win that nomination but I went out to all of the people, the network that I had developed in all of my community work over a large number of years since I graduated from university. I was always involved in charities and other works, the Jaycees, the Terry Fox run, cancer charities and so on. I won that nomination because I had established my reputation within my community and I had a network of people who knew what I did. I was able to go to them and say “This is what I would like to do, you know me, will you help me?”
That is how a nomination is won. It is not bought. I do not accept the basis that one can buy a nomination. It has to be earned. If someone is going to suggest to me that by establishing some kind of limits and lowering it down and reducing the amount of money that can be spent on a nomination that will somehow help people, I would disagree. Anyone in Canada who wants to be a candidate for anyone of the parties the best thing they could do is what 80% of the people in this place I know do, build up a CV that shows a very solid community service record of unpaid, volunteer work and giving back to the community. That is how someone becomes a member of Parliament.
With regard to the overall legislation, the overriding premise has to do with either the fact or the appearance that large corporations have undue influence over politicians, parties, cabinet ministers, members of Parliament and government. That is the essence of the bill and that is what the bill tries to address. Even in question period today there was a question about big money and contracts. This is the appearance. This is what people are representing as the facts.
The Prime Minister of our country said that we need to address the appearance of undue influence and that we need to address the issue of large corporations controlling what happens in the lives of Canadians.
I think the basic premise of the bill is very good. We must address that. It may not be palatable to Canadians to talk generally about politics but we do have to deal with the appearance as well as the fact, if it exists, that large contributors can and will try to influence.
However we also have to recognize that if they are not going to be exerting influence by their donations, they will just turn to lobbyists and have lobbyists come after us as well. We have to be aware of the realities. I think we have much to discuss but let us deal with the appearance of government.