Angry in the Great White North

Rocco Rossi is the new guy in charge of figuring out how to raise funds for the Liberal Party.  You know, to make it less broke.  Here's the email he has sent out with his latest idea:

From: Rocco Rossi, Liberal <info@email.liberal.ca>
Subject: Liberal Helpings / Les soupers libéraux
To: [snip]
Received: Monday, February 23, 2009, 10:32 PM

Dear [snip],

The greatest strength of the Liberal Party has always been the people who come together under its banner. On March 27th, host or join us at one of the hundreds of Liberal Helpings events held around the country and help build the Liberal momentum.

Liberal Helpings is an exciting, grassroots fundraising initiative, where Liberals from all across the country get together in living rooms, kitchens, and halls on the same night. The next Liberal Helpings takes place on Friday, March 27th, and we need dedicated supporters like you to host events. Click here to find out how.

The event will also give you and your guests an opportunity to connect with Michael Ignatieff. Michael will address the Liberal Helpings events in a live call and share his plans and vision for our party and country.

Most Liberal Helpings are modest in scale but generous in spirit. You can host a pot luck, or a dessert party. A wine and cheese get-together works just as well. The theme is entirely up to you. Visit the Liberal Helpings website for ideas and hosting tips, and to see what others have done in the past.

Please join us in what will, no doubt, be a night to remember. Click here to find out more and start planning your event.

Thank you,

Rocco Rossi
National Director
Liberal Party of Canada

Yes, on March 27, Liberals across Canada will be noshing together:

What is Liberal Helpings?

Liberal Helpings is a creative grassroots fundraiser which brings together Liberals from coast to coast to coast in hundreds of small independently hosted events. The details of each event are left up to the discretion of the host, ensuring every event will be unique. Some events will be casual gatherings at home, while others may be intimate dinner parties or larger get-togethers at a public venue. During the evening, participants at each event will enjoy a live address by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff via conference call.

What does a host do?

As a host you will be responsible for planning your event, inviting guests, covering expenses, and deciding if you want to set a donation price.

By signing up online you can set up a description of your event, send out invitations by email, and track your RSVPs. Please note that you can also collect donations at your event but please advise your guests that donations must be made by cheque or credit card. You will be able to download and print out the donation forms to have at your event. You will also receive updated information about the event as we approach the date, including all the information you will need to listen to Michael's address.

I know you spotted the problem right away, but for the rest of my readers who aren't so quick on the uptake, let me quote from the Canada Elections Act:

"non-monetary contribution" means the commercial value of a service, other than volunteer labour, or of property or of the use of property or money to the extent that they are provided without charge or at less than their commercial value.

Now a hosted party at a private home is not likely to run counter to this as long as the host provided all the labour to prepare the meal, or if it is a potluck.  But then maybe it will be a problem, but more on that later.

A catered event, on the other hand, might be a problem.

And a larger get-together at a public venue?  Definitely a problem.

The problem is that the money the host spends on the catering service or on renting space at a hall or restaurant might be considered a contribution to the party.

In other words, if I put up $500 to cater a Liberal Helpings event on behalf of the Liberal Party, then I need to report a $500 donation to the party.  If I've already donated that in this year, the total amount had better not exceed my annual limit of $1100.  If it costs more than $1100 to throw the bash, I have to find a way to legally split that among several individuals (the problem is that it is illegal for someone to act as a proxy for someone else who is donating in excess of his or her yearly limit).

Oh, and the restaurant or hall can't just donate their space or labour from the kitchen staff.  Donations from corporate entities is forbidden.

The Liberal Party is helping organize these events.  Hosts can use Liberal Party computer resources to advertise their events, send out invitations, and track responses.  The Liberal Party will be helping with collecting donations.  The Liberal Party will be providing the entertainment with Michael Ignatieff's live address.

These are not private get-togethers.  These are Liberal Party functions, with these "hosts" acting as unpaid volunteers.  The money they put out to make these parties happen has to be considered donations, and I think even the private house party at which pizza pockets are served might have to tally up the non-monetary contribution, just because of the depth of participation and support from the Liberal Party.

Needless to say, nowhere on the webpage are any of these questions even posed, much less answered.