Tories to end taxpayer subsidies of political parties

David Akin , Canwest News Service Published: Wednesday, November 26

OTTAWA - The Conservatives will propose eliminating taxpayer subsidies of political parties when Finance Minister Jim Flaherty delivers his fiscal and economic update Thursday, a move that could save taxpayers about $28 million a year but could spark a political war. Flaherty will rise in the House of Commons Thursday afternoon and deliver the bleakest description of Canada's economy and the federal government's finances in more than a decade.Flaherty will not announce any new spending initiatives and government sources say the only spending cuts will be to trim the budgets for travel, meal and accommodation expenses for MPs as well as eliminate a subsidy that paid each party a $1.75 per year for every vote they receive in a general election.