The Toronto Star, always a standard bearer for Canadian content, has taken on Sarmite "Sam" Bulte for benefiting from a fundraiser sponsored by Canadian music, software, publishing, television and movie industries. The fundraiser, held on January 19 at the Drake Hotel, at $250 per person featured Margo Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies.
Liberal MPs Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul¹s) and Sarmite Bulte (Parkdale-High Park) take a brief break from campaigning. Photo: Adu Raudkivi
The theme of the Star's recent article was that well organized industry players can influence politicians. In other words "influence peddling".
While Bulte was Parliamentary Secretary to Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla she was busy designing the new copy-right law, one that had not been passed when the election was called. The law has been perceived as a means of protecting the "intellectual property" of our entertainment industries.
The cause for the Star's assault is that Bulte has received some of her money from entertainment industry members while others like NDP receive from individuals alone. That is the easiest hurdle to surmount. One simply takes the donation money out of petty cash for the candidate of choice for yourself and others.
Bulte's closest opponent, Canadian Auto Worker union executive assisstant Peggy Nash parroted the NDP mantra on donations. The Star article didn't mention her background. It would be interesting to see how many of her supporters were non-resident union members.
Popular opinion - at least as expressed by the Star - is that Bulte is in a tough fight for her seat. They said the same thing the last time, against Nash as well, but Bulte won the previous election by a large margin.
Bulte has been active on Baltic issues since she was first elected in 1997, and we didn't even throw her a fundraiser.
