OTTAWA - The Conservative government is introducing legislation to ban corporations and unions from loaning money to political candidates, and limit individual donations to $1,100.
The proposed changes to the Canada Elections Act would allow only financial institutions and "political entities'' to loan money to candidates in nomination and leadership contests.
Conservative House leader Peter Van Loan says the proposal will create a "uniform and transparent reporting regime,'' and the terms of all loans would have to be publicly disclosed.
The Tories complained that "big money'' was at play in the Liberal leadership race last year.
But critics note that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has refused to reveal the names of donors to his 2004 leadership campaign.
The new move comes as the Tories are under fire for a lack of accountability for allegedly hiding cabinet minister expenses.
