In another sign of the impending election, MP's are scrambing to make sure they have enough money. Here is a story from the Hill Times.
...MPs from all parties say they are worried about their sparse war chests as a possible spring election draws closer, and are also in a panic because they still haven't received their final refunds from Elections Canada for election expenses incurred during the last federal campaign a year ago that hobbled the Liberals to minority status. Some consider the matter so "urgent" that they have summoned Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley to appear before the House Procedure and House Affairs Committee this Tuesday, April 19, to explain the holdup behind the refund.
...MPs get to spend around $60,000 to $70,000 to run for office, depending on the size of the ridings. All limits are set by Elections Canada which then refunds 60 per cent of election expenses to candidates who received at least 10 per cent of the valid votes cast. The refund takes place in two installments. A first payment of $12.2-million already went out immediately after the June 28, 2004 election. The second and final payment--of about $14.8-million in total--will go out once Elections Canada has audited the campaign returns. Elections Canada spokesperson Miriam Gennaro said last week that all returns are being "processed on an ongoing basis" and that the second installments will come down in the "period of April and May."
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